Relationship Between BMI and Body Fat Percentage in a Young Adult Female Population

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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%.