Body Fat Percentage and Normal-Weight Obesity in the Chinese Population: Development of a Simple Evaluation Indicator Using Anthropometric Measurements

Yuetong Zhu, Zimin Wang, Hitoshi Maruyama, Ko Onoda and Qiuchen Huang
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Yuetong Zhu: Graduate School of Health and Welfare Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan
Zimin Wang: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8397, Japan
Hitoshi Maruyama: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan
Ko Onoda: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Science, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan
Qiuchen Huang: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Few studies explore the associations between body fat percentage (BFP) prediction and evaluation indicators for Chinese with normal-weight obesity. We aimed to explore convenient and cost-free BFP evaluation indicators to routinely monitor BFP status in Chinese patients with normal-weight obesity. Participants (N = 164) were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) and BFP: normal-weight lean, normal-weight obese, and overweight and obese. Differences in body composition and circumference were compared to examine the relationship between BFP and circumference, determine a simple evaluation indicator reflecting BFP, and identify cutoff values for normal-weight obesity circumference. Significant differences in body composition and circumference were observed among the three groups. The correlation between thigh/height, hip/height, (hip + waist)/height, and BFP was stronger than that with BMI. The (hip + waist)/height ratio was the indicator most reflective of BFP (95% confidence interval: 3.004–9.018, p = 0.013), and a ratio above 1.115 (95% confidence interval: 0.936–0.992, p < 0.001) was predictive of normal-weight obesity. Furthermore, we suggest that the upper value for a normal BMI in Chinese individuals be lowered to 23.4 kg/m 2 (95% confidence interval: 0.984–0.999, p < 0.001). The (hip + waist)/height ratio can be used with body mass index for a more accurate evaluations of BFP abnormalities and health risks.

Keywords: body circumferences; body fat percentage; (hip + waist)/height ratio; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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