Attached
Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a
useful measure of classifying overweight and obesity.
The relationship between BMI and body fat
percentage (BF%) has been studied in various ethnic
groups to estimate the capacity of BMI to predict
adiposity. In clinical practice, use of BMI as an
indicator of overweight and obesity is easy, but its
reliability as a tool for measuring body fat on an
individual level can be questioned. The objective was
to determine the relationship between BMI and BF%
in female undergraduates residing in hostels of
University of Sri jayewardenepura.
Methodology: An analytical cross sectional study
was performed among 367 female hostellers (age
group of 20-26years) randomly selected using hostel
re g is trie s . H e ig h t was m easured using
stretch-resistant measuring tape to the nearest 01
cm. Body weight and BF% values were taken using
Karada Scan®, Body fat analyzer (Bioelectrical
Impedance Analysis). Data analysis was performed
using SPSS 16. Correlation and association was
tested by Pearson correlation and Chi-square test
respectively.
Results and Discussion: When BMI was categorized
according to WPRO 2000 categorization specifically
for Asians, 41.4% were underweight (<18.Skg/m2),
43.1% were normal weight (18.5-22.9kg/m2), 7.9%
(23-24,9kg/m21 were overweight and >'.6%
(>25kg/;-.-.2) were obese. 4.1% j -!?.?% ; were w.l'b
low, 59.1% (20.0%-29.9%) were with normal, 28.9%
(30.0%-34.9%’J were with high and 7.9% (>35.0%)
were with very high BF%. (p=Q.0QQ) Pearson
correlation=0.630, Significance (2- tailed)=0.000)
C onclusion: In the study population 15.5% were
overweight and obese, 36.8% had high BF%. A
significant association and correlation was found
between BMI and BF%.
