Is there any relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), selected anthropometric parameters and body fat percentage

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In clinical practice, use o f Body Mass Index (BMI) and anthropometric parameters as indicators o f obesity is easy, but their reliability as tools for measuring body fat on an ! individual level can be questioned. A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 367 female undergraduates residing in hostels o f University of Sri Jayewardenepura to determine the relationship between BMI, selected anthropometric parameters and Body Fat percentage (BF%). Weight, height, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), mid-thigh circumference (MTC), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured in accordance with WHO standards. Total BF% was estimated using Karada Scan®; body fat analyser (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and Chi-square (x2) test were performed in the analysis (SPSS 21.0). The means o f BMI, total BF%, WC, MUAC, MTC, W HR and WTR were, 19.59± 3.56 kg/m2, 28.23±4.71 %, 72.43±8.92 cm, 25.27±3.69 cm, 43.64±5.42 cm, 0.81±0.07 and 1.67±0.16, respectively. According to WHO categorization for Asians, 41.4% were underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), 7.9% were overweight (23.0-24.9 kg/m2), 7.6% were obese (>25.0 kg/m2). 28.9% and 7.9% were with high BF% (30.0% - 34.9%) and very high BF% (35.0%-50.0%), respectively. According to WHO cut-off points for anthropometric parameters, 17.4%, 1.1%, 9.0%, 56.4% and 57.8% o f the study population had a high risk levels for WC (>80.0cm), MTC (>60.0cm), MUAC (>30.5cm), W HR (>0.80) and WTR (>1.65) respectively while 39.0% had under nutrition level for MUAC (<24.0cm). A significant association was observed between total BF% with BMI, WC, W HR and MUAC (p<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between total BF% with BMI, WC, HC, MUAC, MTC, W HR and WTR. These results highlight that more than half the population is nutritionally abnormal and other anthropometric parameters also show high risk in some o f the participants. Dietary interventions and education on nutrition and regular exercises may be necessary for this group o f females as they are the future o f the country.