Ethnic differences in the association between body mass index and impedance index (Ht2/Z) in adult women and men using a leg-to-leg bioimpedance method.
Siervo, M;
Davies, AA;
Jebb, SA;
Jalil, F;
Moore, SE;
Prentice, AM;
(2007)
Ethnic differences in the association between body mass index and impedance index (Ht2/Z) in adult women and men using a leg-to-leg bioimpedance method.
European journal of clinical nutrition, 61 (11).
pp. 1337-1340.
ISSN 0954-3007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602678
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
BACKGROUND: Ethnic differences in the association between body mass index (BMI) and body fat suggest that body composition varies across ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between impedance index - a measure of tissue resistivity - and BMI in adults of different ethnic groups (Asian Indians, West Africans and White Caucasians) living in their native countries. METHODS: Male (n=329) and female (n=277) adult subjects (18-50 years) living in urban areas in the UK, The Gambia and Pakistan were studied. Body weight and height were measured and BMI calculated. The same leg-to-leg bioimpedance instrument was used in each study and impedance index (height(2) (cm)/impedance (Omega)) used as measure of tissue resistivity. RESULTS: In women, Asian Indians and West Africans had a significantly greater increase in impedance index per unit increase in BMI compared with white Caucasians (P<0.001). In men, Asian Indians had a significantly lower impedance index compared with West Africans and white Caucasians (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Different ethnic groups may have different tissue resistivity for the same BMI indicative of systematic differences in body composition.
