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Equation‐derived body fat percentage indicates metabolic abnormalities among normal‐weight adults in a rural Chinese population
Author(s) -
Liu Xin,
Zhao Yaling,
Li Qiang,
Dang Shaog,
Yan Hong
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.22964
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , metabolic syndrome , obesity , body mass index , confidence interval , odds ratio , national cholesterol education program , population , uric acid , endocrinology , demography , blood pressure , physiology , environmental health , sociology
Abstract Objectives Obesity classification using body mass index (BMI) may miss subjects with elevated body fat percentage (BF%) and related metabolic risk factors. We aimed to evaluate whether BF% calculated by equations could provide more information about metabolic risks, in addition to BMI classification, in a cross‐sectional rural Chinese population. Methods A total of 2,990 men and women aged 18–80 years were included in this study. BF% was calculated using previously validated Chinese‐specific equations. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. Results In total, 33.6% men and 32.9% women were overweight/obese according to BMI classification. Among those within the normal BMI range, 25.4% men and 54.7% women were indicated as overweight or obese given their elevated BF% (men: BF% ≥ 20%; women: BF% ≥ 30%). In both men and women, compared with those with normal BMI and BF% (NBB), subjects with normal BMI but elevated BF% (NBOB) were more likely to carry abnormal serum lipid profile and to have higher risks of metabolic syndrome. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for metabolic syndrome were 5.45 (2.37–9.53, P < 0.001) and 5.65 (3.36–9.52, P < 0.001) for men and women, respectively. Moreover, the women with NBOB also showed higher blood pressure and serum uric acid than women with NBB. Conclusions Our study suggested that high BF% based on equations may indicate adverse metabolic profiles among rural Chinese adults with a normal BMI.