Comparison of New and Old Body Shape Indices to Estimate Body Fat in Obese and Morbid Obese Turkish Females

ABSTRACT

Objective: The estimation of fat mass with indirect techniques is beneficial in daily clinical practice. This study aimed to compare new and old body shape indices using bioimpedance analysis for the assessment of body fat mass in obese and morbid obese Turkish females. Material and Methods: Four hundred thirty-eight obese and morbid obese females were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the study participants were completed using standard techniques. Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), a body shape index, waist to hip ratio and body roundness index (BRI) were calculated. The body fat ratio was evaluated using TANITA-48M. Results: All the anthropometric indices except waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and ABSI correlated with body fat (%). BMI and BAI were the best predictors of body fat ratio derived from bioimpedance analysis for all participants. Only for obese females, BAI alone as well as BAI and BMI together were the best predictive methods of body fat (%). In the morbid obese group, BAI alone proved to be the best predictive method for body fat (%) estimation. Conclusion: In clinical practice, the determination of body fat ratio with indirect techniques may help physicians estimate the risk of diseases in obese and morbid obese patients. BAI can help estimate body fat ratio easily.