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Low body mass index but high percent body fat in Taiwanese subjects: implications of obesity cutoffs

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 253–259 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare the different correlations of body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (BF%) with other ethnic groups and to evaluate the appropriateness of Asia-Pacific redefining obesity criteria in the Taiwanese population. The corresponding BF% to BMI cutoffs of overweight and obesity will also be studied.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey.

SUBJECTS: A total of 509 male and 570 female Taiwanese subjects aged ≥20 y sampled by the systematic stratified clustering sampling method were analyzed.

MEASUREMENTS: BMI was obtained by body weight (kg) divided by squared body height (m2). The estimated BMI (BMIe) was deduced from the Caucasian-based four-compartment equation (4C). BF% measured by the methods of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or Caucasian-based 4C were used and abbreviated as DXA-BF and 4C-BF, respectively.

RESULTS: The curvilinear relationship between age and BMI or DXA-BF was established. When compared by age-stratified groups, Taiwanese subjects had a higher BF% (4C-BF) in any given BMI than Caucasians. That is, the level of 4C-BF for BMI≥25 kg/m2 in Taiwanese subjects was similar to BMI≥30 kg/m2 in Caucasians. The BMIe values of 25 and 30 kg/m2 were nearly equal to the BMIs of 23.6 and 25.3 kg/m2 in males, and 22.7 and 24.8 kg/m2 in females, respectively. The 4C-BF of 25% was nearly equal to a BMI of 26.2 kg/m2 in males, and 35% was equal to a BMI of 24.4 kg/m2 in females. Consequently, the DXA-BF cutoffs for BMIs of 23 and 25 kg/m2 were compatible to 23 and 25% in males, and 35 and 38% in females, respectively.

CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that Taiwanese subjects had a relatively lower BMI but a higher BF% than Caucasians. In general, the newly proposed Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs for overweight (≥23 kg/m2) and obesity (≥25 kg/m2) may be acceptable to both male and female Taiwanese subjects. The corresponding BF% (DXA-BF) cutoffs for obesity would be 25% in male and 38% in female Taiwanese subjects, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants NSC 90-2314-B-006-104, NSC 89-2314-B006-044, and NSC 89-2314-B006-208. We thank colleagues of the Department of Family Medicine, NCKUH, for help in this epidemiological survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    C-J Chang, C-H Wu, C-S Chang, Y-C Yang, J-S Wu & F-H Lu

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    W-J Yao

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  1. C-J Chang
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Correspondence to C-J Chang.

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Chang, CJ., Wu, CH., Chang, CS. et al. Low body mass index but high percent body fat in Taiwanese subjects: implications of obesity cutoffs. Int J Obes 27, 253–259 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802197

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