Original scientific paper
A Measure of Obesity: BMI versus Subcutaneous Fat Patterns in Young Athletes and Nonathletes
Sandra Johanna Wallner-Liebmann
; Medical University Graz, Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Graz, Austria
Renate Kruschitz
; Medical University Graz, Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Graz, Austria
Katharina Hübler
; Medical University Graz, Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Graz, Austria
Michael John Hamlin
; Lincoln University, Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport, Christchurch, New Zealand
Wolfgang Johann Schnedl
; Practice for General Internal Medicine, Liezen, Austria
Maximilian Moser
; Medical University Graz, Institute of Physiology, Graz, Austria
Erwin Tafeit
; Medical University Graz, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Centre for Physiological Medicine, Graz, Austria
Abstract
Although the body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) is widely used as a surrogate measure of adiposity, it is a measure of excess weight, rather than excess body fat, relative to height. The BMI classification system is derived from cut points obtained from the general population. The influence of large muscle mass on BMI in athletes and young adults may misclassify these individuals as overweight and obese. Therefore, the use of subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top) may be more effective than BMI in assessing obesity in physically active people and young adults. The purposes of
this study were 1) to describe the relationship between the BMI and SAT-Top of young athletes and nonathletes, and 2) to determine the accuracy of the BMI as a measure of overweight. Height, weight, BMI and SAT-Top were determined in 64 males (25.0±6.7) and 42 females (24.8±7.0), who were subsequently separated into two even groups (athletes and nonathletes). The optical Lipometer device was applied to measure the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT).While BMI was similar, male athletes showed a 50.3% lower total SAT thickness compared to their male nonathlete controls. Even though female athletes had significantly higher BMI and weight scores, their total SAT thickness was 34.9% lower than their nonathlete controls. These results suggest subcutaneous fat patterns are a better screening tool to characterize fatness in physically active young people.
Keywords
obesity; body mass index; subcutaneous fat; athletes; lipometer
Hrčak ID:
104460
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2013.
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