title: Alternative methods for measuring obesity in African American women.
abstract: The use of body mass index (BMI) may not be the most appropriate measurement tool in determining obesity in diverse populations. We studied a convenience sample of 108 African American (AA) women to determine the best method for measuring obesity in this at-risk population. The purpose of this study was to determine if percent body fat (PBF) and percent body water (PBW) could be used as alternatives to BMI in predicting obesity and risk for hypertension (HTN) among AA women. After accounting for age, BMI, and the use of anti-hypertensive medication, PBF (p = 0.0125) and PBW (p = 0.0297) were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure, while BMI was not. Likewise, PBF (p = 0.0316) was significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure, while PBW and BMI were not. Thus, health care practitioners should consider alternative anthropometric measurements such as PBF when assessing obesity in AA women.
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06536, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Jacquelyn Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Chun Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001834:Body Water; D001835:Body Weight; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: African American; body mass index; obesity; percent body fat; women