Relationship between BMI with percentage body fat and obesity in Singaporean adults - The Yishun Study

​Background
The main aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and percentage body fat (BF%) in Singaporean adults, derive a prediction model to estimate BF%, and to report population BF%. The secondary aim was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity based on BF% threshold and the new reisk categories for obesity in Singaporean population.

Methods
This was a population-based study of 542 community-dwelling Singaporeans (21-90 year old, 43.1% men). Athropometry and body composition were assessed. Relationship between BMI and BF% were analysed using multiple regression models. Prevalence of overweight and obesity were estimated using WHO and Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) Clinical Practice Guidelines for BMI classification, and BF% cut-off points of 25 and 35% for men and women respectively.

Results
We derived a prediction model to estimate BF% based on BMI, age and sex. The current cohort of Singaporeans when compared to Caucasians in the US and Europe as well as a Singapore cohort from 20 years age have higher BF% when matched for BMI, age, and sex. The overall population-adjusted prevalence of obesity according to WHO International classification (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) was 12.9% (14.9% men; 11.0% women); and 26.6% (30.7% men; 22.8% women) according to the MOH classification (BMI ≥27.5 kg/m²). However, using the BF% cut-off (> 25% for men and > 35% for women) resulted in very highprevalence of obesity of 82.0% (80.2% men; 83.8% women).

Conclusion
There is a large discrepancy between BF% and BMI measured obesity in Singaporean adults. The results confirmed that Singaporean adults have higher BF% at lower BMI compared to US and Europe white counterparts; and that BF% in our population has increased over two decades.

Keywords
BMI; Obesity; Percentage body fat' Prevalence

SOURCE:
BMC Public Health

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11070-7

AUTHOR(S):
Chen KK, Wee SL, Pang BWJ, Lau LK, Jabbar KA, Seah JWT, Ng TP