The Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Vital Capacity: A Study of Corelation Between Body Mass Index and Mean Forced Vital Capacity

Abstract

Obesity is a major health problem of excessive adipose tissue accumulation in body which leads to problem in Asian countries like India as a result of rapidly changing life style which involves consumption of calorie rich food with lack of physical activities. While the complication of obesity such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis are well known, but less emphasis is traditionally placed on the effects of obesity on the respiratory system. Obesity is responsible for lessening the lung volume and capacities by reducing both lung and chest wall acquiescence and also there is an increase in resistance to outflow of air through the airways. Purpose of present study is to establish a relationship between Forced Vital Capacity and Body Mass Index (BMI). The present study was undertaken in department of Physiology in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur MP in year 2018. The subjects comprised of both male and female 50 individuals came to Physiology department for Pulmonary function test from other departments of the college. After explaining and training the subjects Spirometry of all individuals was done by Computerised Spirometer in well ventilated room, after written consent in Department of Physiology. Tools used in present study were chi square, t-test etc.