Anthropometric Measurement and Ventilatory Function in Obese and Non-Obese Female College Students.

Abstract

Obesity is global risk factor for many health problems. The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between the anthropometric measurements [Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and abdominal circumference (AC)] and ventilatory function parameters [Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), maximum ventilatory ventilation (MVV)] and to investigate the impact and association of cut-off values of BMI, WC and WHR with ventilatory function in obese and non-obese young females. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 69 Saudi female students aged between 18-26 years. All participants were subjected to anthropometric and ventilatory function measurements. The results revealed variable relationships between the anthropometric measurements and parameters of ventilatory function. In obese group BMI was negatively associated with FEV1/FVC (β=-0.497, P=0.026), on average one kg/m2 increase in BMI resulted in 1.80% reduction in FEV1/FVC ratio. The WC ≥ 88 cm was negatively associated with VC (β=-0.538, P=0.031), FVC (β=-0.624, P=0.010) and FEV1 (β=-0.609, P=0.012). On average, one cm increase in WC was associated with 3.8 mL reduction in VC, 4.41 mL reduction in FVC and 4.3 mL reduction in FEV1.The WHR ≥80% was negatively associated with VC (β=-0.710, P=0.021), on average one % increase was associated with 2.492 mL reduction in VC. Trunk obesity as measured by WC, WHR and AC is more significant predictor to ventilatory function than overall obesity measure, BMI.