Assessment of body fat mass index and basal metabolism to body fat ratio as markers of cardiovascular risk in obese Indian population

Abstract

Background and Aim: Obesity is one among the prominent public health threats globally. Altered body composition and increased basal metabolism (BM) have been reported in obesity. However, the association of body composition and metabolic indices with cardiovascular (CV) risk in obese Indian population has not been studied. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the independent contribution of body composition and BM indices to CV risk in apparently healthy obese subjects. Methods: Basal CV and body composition parameters were recorded in 100 subjects divided into controls ( n = 48) and obese ( n = 52) groups. Association and independent contribution of body mass index (BMI), BM to body fat (BM/BF) ratio and BF mass index (BFMI) with rate pressure product (RPP), an established CV risk was performed by Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis, respectively. Results: Basal CV parameters were significantly increased in obese group compared to controls. Body composition parameters were also found to be significantly altered in obese group compared to controls. BMI, BM/BF, and BFMI had an independent contribution to RPP in the obese group, whereas no such association was observed in controls. Among these parameters, RPP had maximum association with BFMI (β =0.411, P ≤ 0.001) and BM/BF (β =0.373, P = 0.005) in obese group. Conclusion: Findings of the present study demonstrates increased RPP in obese subjects, predisposing them to future cardiac related morbidities. BFMI and BM/BF ratio appears to be better markers of CV risk in obese Indian population.