[Anthropometry and the reference values of body composition by bioelectrical impedance in the adult population of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to assess the anthropometric variables and the reference values of body composition in the adult population of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, due to the lack of epidemiological studies on this matter in Spain.


METHODS
We studied 234 normal subjects, 134 males, mean age 41.4 years, and 134 females, mean age 40.7 years, selected from the census of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and representative of its population in sex and age. We determined anthropometric characteristics, body weight, height, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and body composition parameters: total body water, free fat mass, fat mass and body fat by bioelectrical impedance analyzer.


RESULTS
Twenty-four males and 33 females were obese, and out of them 2 males and 4 women presented morbid obesity. The body mass index was higher either in males (p = 0.017) or in females (p = 0. 0001) in the last decades in relation to first decade, and in women was as consequence of higher fat mass (p = 0.0001). The waist-hip ratio was 0.93 (0.08) in male and 0.79 (0.07) in female, and it was high in males in the last decades.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study points out the high prevalence of obesity in our city and the anthropometric characteristics and reference values of body composition in the normal population of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, remarking the high body mass index in the last decades, especially in women due to an increase of fat mass. The waist-hip ratio was high in males in the last decades.
Gómez Sáez
J M
JM
Servicio de Endocrinología, Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. iroigsag@jet.es
Maravall
F J
FJ
Gómez Arnaiz
N
N
Soler Ramón
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data