Yonsei Med J.  2014 Jul;55(4):1028-1035. 10.3349/ymj.2014.55.4.1028.

Comparison of the Body Adiposity Index to Body Mass Index in Korean Women

• Sung YA
• Oh JY
• Lee H

• KMID: 2130829
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2014.55.4.1028

Abstract

PURPOSE
Obesity is a major public health issue and is associated with many metabolic abnormalities. Consequently, the assessment of obesity is very important. A new measurement, the body adiposity index (BAI), has recently been proposed to provide valid estimates of body fat percentages. The objective of this study was to compare the BAI and body mass index (BMI) as measurements of body adiposity and metabolic risk.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a cross-sectional analysis performed on Korean women. The weight, height, and hip circumferences of 2950 women (mean age 25+/-5 years old, 18-39 years) were measured, and their BMI and BAI [hip circumference (cm)/height (m)(1.5)-18] values were calculated. Bioelectric impedance analysis was used to evaluate body fat content. Glucose tolerance status was assessed with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and insulin sensitivity was estimated with the insulin sensitivity index.
RESULTS
BMI was more significantly correlated with fat mass and fat percentage. Additionally, BMI was also more significantly associated with metabolic parameters, including fasting glucose, post-load 2-h glucose, fasting insulin, post-load 2-h insulin, triglycerides, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol than BAI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that BMI was a better tool for predicting body fat percentage than BAI. Insulin sensitivity and metabolic syndrome were more significantly associated with BMI than with BAI.
CONCLUSION
In Korean women, the current BMI-based classifications for obesity might be superior to BAI-based measurements for determining obesity and predicting metabolic risk.

Keyword

Body adiposity index; body mass index; obesity

MeSH Terms

Adiposity/*physiology
Adolescent
Adult
Body Composition/physiology
Body Mass Index
Body Weight/physiology
Cholesterol, HDL/blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Obesity/blood/*physiopathology
Triglycerides/blood
Waist Circumference/physiology
Young Adult
Cholesterol, HDL
Triglycerides

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Receiver operating characteristic curves for sensitivity and specificity of body mass index and body adiposity index in detecting obesity by body fat percentage. BMI, body mass index; BAI, body adiposity index; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.

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