title: Normal weight obesity among young adults in Trinidad and Tobago: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with normal weight obesity (NWO) have a normal body mass index (BMI) but elevated body fat percentage (BF%), thereby increasing their risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of NWO and its associated factors in a sample of young adults in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study involving a convenience non-voluntary sample of participants with a normal BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 was conducted. The following information was collected: history, basic anthropometric measurements, including BF% via the Tanita Ironman Body Composition Analyzer (BC554), physical examination and basic blood investigations. Participants were divided into two groups; normal BF% (<23.1% males, <33.3% females) and elevated BF% (≥23.1% males, ≥33.3% females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-six students participated, F:M (2.1:1), aged 18-28 years [Mean 21.33 (SD 2.5)], mean BMI 21.66 (SD 1.9). A response rate of 80.3%. The prevalence of NWO for this population was 19.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.1-25.7]. Males 14.4% (95% CI 10.3-19.7) and females 5.5% (95% CI 3.1-9.5). Variables with a statistically significant association with NWO included gender, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (BP), the ratio of total cholesterol (TC) to high density lipoprotein and in females, the presence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression revealed that predictors of NWO were male gender and waist circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in five of this young adult population was found to have NWO. Long-term studies are recommended to study the full implications of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Unit, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
authors.forename: Cherrita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramsaran
authors.affiliation: The Unit of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
authors.forename: Rohan G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Maharaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: bioelectrical impedance analysis; normal weight obesity; young adults