Background: In the era of recent surge in obesity, the understanding of body composition and fat distribution is mandatory to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases. Although Body mass index (BMI) is widely used to measure obesity, it does not reflect the pattern of body fat distribution. This study was aimed at assessing the body composition by Bio impedance analysis and to correlate with BMI. Methodology: Subjects in the age group of 18 to 25 years of both genders were enrolled for the study. Body composition was measured using Omron Karada scan, the body fat analyzer that works on the principle of Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The body composition parameters such as skeletal muscle mass, total body fat, subcutaneous fat and visceral fat were measured and compared between both sexes. Pearson correlation was done between BMI and body composition parameters. Results: BMI showed positive correlation with total body fat(r=0.566), subcutaneous fat(r=0.49) and visceral fat(r=0.92) and negative correlation with skeletal muscle mass(r=?0.258). Women had more total body fat% when compared to male, but less skeletal muscle mass. Whereas men had more visceral fat when compared to female of same age. Conclusion: Our study concludes that BMI strongly correlates with body fat distribution. Visceral fat being an important marker for obesity related morbidities shows significant linear & positive correlation with BMI when compared to total fat and subcutaneous fat.
Suguna et al. (Wed,) studied this question.