BIA vs BMI for Predicting Risk for Cardiometabolic Diseases
Body fat percentage via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) more accurately predicts the risk for cardiometabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension compared with body mass index (BMI), according to a recent study.
Findings were presented at the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) 22nd World Congress, which is taking place August 29 to September 2, 2017.
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Adiposity is associated with the development of metabolic diseases, and BMI is commonly used to determine nutrition status. However, it cannot predict body fat mass. BIA can be used to determine body fat percentage, but its ability to predict the risk for cardiometabolic diseases is less established.
To compare BIA with BMI in predicting the risk for cardiometabolic diseases, the researchers assessed 441 patients enrolled in a BIA and obesity program database between March 2013 and November 2014. Mean patient age was 37 years, and 71% of patients were women. Median BMI was 30.6 kg/m2, and median body fat percentage was 40.8%.
Demographic information, anthropometrics, body composition, and comorbidities were recorded. Additionally, statistical analysis was conducted via SPSS software in order to correlate BMI and body fat percentage with metabolic diseases.
A total of 10.3% of patients had type 2 diabetes, while 36% had insulin resistance and 23.6% had hypertension. Furthermore, 34.4% had dyslipidemia, and 2.7% had obstructive sleep apnea. Ultimately, the researchers found that identifying body fat percentage via BIA better predicted the risk for cardiometabolic diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and hypertension, compared with BMI.
“[Body fat percentage] correlated better than BMI with [type 2 diabetes mellitus] and [hypertension],” the researchers concluded. “Both measurements strongly correlated with insulin resistance. Our data suggests that although BMI may be a good clinical parameter for assessing nutritional status, body composition should be considered as a more accurate measurement to determine the risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Morelli C, Hernández J, Morales S, et al. Body mass index versus body composition in association with metabolic diseases. Paper presented at: IFSO 22nd World Congress; August 29-September 2, 2017; London, UK. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11695-017-2774-7.pdf. Accessed August 30, 2017.