Relationship between the Neck Circumference, StandardAnthropometric Measures, and Blood Pressure in youngadults in Urban slums, Bengaluru

Abstract

Background Neck circumference NC is a simple and reliable anthropometric measure whereas measurement of waist circumference WC has substantial variability and body mass index BMI is associated with significant limitations as not representing the body fat distribution. Upper body subcutaneous fat UBSF has a higher metabolic risk than abdominal visceral fat and this can be estimated by neck circumference NC.Objective To assess an impact of gender on NC values and to determine whether the NC correlates with standard anthropometric measures and BP values in apparently healthy young adults in urban slums of Bengaluru.Methodology A cross-sectional study included young adults of 19 to 24 years in urban slums of Bengaluru conducted during the month of October ndash November 2019 by snowball sampling. A face validated semi structured self-administered questionnaire consisting.Results In 46 young men the value of NC was 36.68plusmn1.47 cm while in 58 young women the value of NC was 32.12plusmn1.63 cm plt0.001. There is a significant positive correlation in both genders between the NC and BMI r0.80 plt0.001 in men r0.49 plt0.001 in women and between the NC and WC r0.48 plt0.001 in men r0.38 plt0.01 in women. Significant correlation was not observed between the NC and SBP r0.07 p0.69 and DBP r0.19 p0.20 in young men and between the NC and SBP r0.06 p0.54 and DBP r0.09 p0.51 in young women.Conclusion NC can be considered as a simple useful and reliable tool to identify overweight and obesity instead of standard anthropometric measures like BMI and WC which causes discomfort during measurement.