title: Body composition analysis to determine gender specific physical fitness equations in a cohort of Saudi population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine an association between body composition analysis and physical fitness in the Saudi population and derive gender specific physical fitness equations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 530 healthy Saudi adults aged 15-72 years (mean 37.16±14.12 years) were enrolled in this study. Body composition analysis was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), with a commercially available body analyzer according to standard protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different body composition parameters, such as age, height, BSA (body surface area), obesity degree, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM) and percent body fat (% BF) contents were significantly different in males and females except weight which was non-significant (p=0.649). There was significant positive or negative correlation among different body composition parameters except weight with age in males and weight with age, height and BSA in females. In males, all the body composition characteristics contributed to the fitness score except BMI and BFM, while in females, the most significant effect was contributed by weight and BFM. Female body composition characteristics were strongly related to fitness score compared to males (R(2) = 93.8% vs R(2) = 78.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different body composition parameters like BFM and %BF played an important role in determining physical fitness of healthy male individuals instead of BMI, weight and BSA, while in females weight was the best predictor of physical fitness.
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Iqbal, Khalid A Al-Regaiey, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, P O Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Shafiq Ahmad, Department of Management, College of Business, Al-Yamamah University, P.O. Box 45180, Riyadh 11512, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Al-Regaiey
authors.affiliation: Laila Al Dokhi, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, P O Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shafiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Mohammad Al Naami, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, P O Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al Dokhi
authors.affiliation: Mohammad Al Naami, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, P O Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Naami
authors.affiliation: Syed Shahid Habib, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, P O Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Syed Shahid
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Habib
keywords: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis; Body composition; Body fat percentage; Physical fitness
references.citation: J Cardiopulm Rehabil. 1995 Mar-Apr;15(2):122-9
references.pmid: 8542515
references.citation: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Feb;35(2):270-7
references.pmid: 12569216
references.citation: Acta Diabetol. 2003 Oct;40 Suppl 1:S254-7
references.pmid: 14618486
references.citation: Nutr Rev. 1994 Apr;52(4):123-31
references.pmid: 8028817
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Apr;31(4):637-43
references.pmid: 17006443
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2005 Jun;115(6):e690-6
references.pmid: 15930197
references.citation: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jul;59(7):877-83
references.pmid: 15915157
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2003 Oct;26(10):2918-22
references.pmid: 14514602
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Feb;36(2):286-94
references.pmid: 21587201
references.citation: Int J Sports Med. 2002 Jan;23(1):50-4
references.pmid: 11774067
references.citation: Ann Saudi Med. 2011 Jan-Feb;31(1):19-23
references.pmid: 21245594
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Jun;29(6):656-67
references.pmid: 15782225
references.citation: Eur Heart J. 2004 Aug;25(16):1428-37
references.pmid: 15321701
references.citation: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011 Sep 21;8:98
references.pmid: 21936895
references.citation: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jun;40(6):1163-70
references.pmid: 18460987
references.citation: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Nov;17(11):2094-9
references.pmid: 19360011
references.citation: Biomed Environ Sci. 2013 Feb;26(2):94-9
references.pmid: 23336132
references.citation: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008 May;104(5):1313-9
references.pmid: 18323464
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2005 Oct 10;165(18):2114-20
references.pmid: 16217001
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2012 May 24;12:374
references.pmid: 22626033