Reference values of body composition for adult females who are classified as normal weight, overweight or obese according to body mass index.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to establish reference values for body composition as measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analyser (BIA) in adult females without any endocrinological and/or metabolic disorders, according to their body mass index (BMI) grouped as normal, overweight, obese and morbid obese.


METHODS
This study was performed in a total of 327 adult females. In addition to the estimation of their body weight, height, waist and hip circumference, their body composition was measured by BIA. The results were statistically evaluated by a computer program using ANOVA test.


RESULTS
Together with the increase of BMI also the percentage of body fat and basal metabolism (BM) increased significantly, while the percentage of body water, fat free mass as well as lean/fat ratio showed a significant decrease. In addition, waist and hip ratio, percentage of body fat and BM showed a significant positive corelation with BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are recommended to be used as reference values for the studies on body composition, especially to predict the degree of body fatness of obese patients and also nutritional status of patients who need nutritional supports.
Ozenoglu
Aliye
A
Department of Psychiatry, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ugurlu
Serdal
S
Can
Gunay
G
Hatemi
Hüsrev
H
D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio