Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults

Background: Height-independent body composition parameters such as fat free mass index (FFMI) and body fat mass index (BFMI) allow height-independent interpretation of nutrition status and putatively provide a better assessment of body fat. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to invest...

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Main Authors: Fareha Husain, Mohd. Yasir Zubair, Shahnawaz Alam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara 2025-05-01
Series:Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
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Online Access:https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4477
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author Fareha Husain
Mohd. Yasir Zubair
Shahnawaz Alam
author_facet Fareha Husain
Mohd. Yasir Zubair
Shahnawaz Alam
author_sort Fareha Husain
collection DOAJ
description Background: Height-independent body composition parameters such as fat free mass index (FFMI) and body fat mass index (BFMI) allow height-independent interpretation of nutrition status and putatively provide a better assessment of body fat. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the relationships between body composition parameters and their associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 participants (60 males, 60 females) aged 18 years and older. Body composition parameters including body mass index (BMI), BFMI, FFMI, total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW) were measured using BIA. Participants were stratified by age and gender for comparative analyses. Results: Significant gender differences were observed across all parameters. Females showed higher BMI (26.75 vs. 24.38 kg/m2) and BFMI (9.755 vs. 5.85 kg/m2), while males demonstrated higher FFMI (17.63 vs. 16.50 kg/m2) and TBW (60.59% vs. 50.95%). Among age groups, only BMI showed significant differences (P=0.024), with the highest values in the 40–59 years group. Strong positive correlations were found between BFMI and BMI (r=0.776, P<0.01) and TBW with ICW (r=0.962, P<0.01). Strong negative correlations were observed between TBW and BFMI (r=−0.830, P<0.01). Age showed no significant correlations with any body composition parameters. Conclusions: The study demonstrates significant gender-based differences in body composition parameters and reveals that BMI correlates strongly with FM but only moderately with fat-free mass. Most body composition parameters remain relatively stable across age groups. These findings emphasize the importance of gender-specific approaches in body composition assessment and suggest the need for more comprehensive evaluation methods beyond traditional BMI measurements.
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spelling doaj-art-a22610d2f5d14de1b8dfeb09a1eb32c92025-08-20T03:14:20ZengManipal College of Medical Sciences, PokharaAsian Journal of Medical Sciences2467-91002091-05762025-05-011655158https://doi.org/10.71152/ajms.v16i5.4477Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adultsFareha Husain 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7589-5318Mohd. Yasir Zubair 1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0257-058XShahnawaz Alam 2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7292-1907Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi Autonomous State Medical College, Etah, Uttar Pradesh, India Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi Autonomous State Medical College, Etah, Uttar Pradesh, India Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Naraina Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India Background: Height-independent body composition parameters such as fat free mass index (FFMI) and body fat mass index (BFMI) allow height-independent interpretation of nutrition status and putatively provide a better assessment of body fat. Aims and Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the relationships between body composition parameters and their associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 participants (60 males, 60 females) aged 18 years and older. Body composition parameters including body mass index (BMI), BFMI, FFMI, total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW) were measured using BIA. Participants were stratified by age and gender for comparative analyses. Results: Significant gender differences were observed across all parameters. Females showed higher BMI (26.75 vs. 24.38 kg/m2) and BFMI (9.755 vs. 5.85 kg/m2), while males demonstrated higher FFMI (17.63 vs. 16.50 kg/m2) and TBW (60.59% vs. 50.95%). Among age groups, only BMI showed significant differences (P=0.024), with the highest values in the 40–59 years group. Strong positive correlations were found between BFMI and BMI (r=0.776, P<0.01) and TBW with ICW (r=0.962, P<0.01). Strong negative correlations were observed between TBW and BFMI (r=−0.830, P<0.01). Age showed no significant correlations with any body composition parameters. Conclusions: The study demonstrates significant gender-based differences in body composition parameters and reveals that BMI correlates strongly with FM but only moderately with fat-free mass. Most body composition parameters remain relatively stable across age groups. These findings emphasize the importance of gender-specific approaches in body composition assessment and suggest the need for more comprehensive evaluation methods beyond traditional BMI measurements.https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4477body composition; body mass index; body fat mass index; fat-free mass index; adiposity
spellingShingle Fareha Husain
Mohd. Yasir Zubair
Shahnawaz Alam
Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
body composition; body mass index; body fat mass index; fat-free mass index; adiposity
title Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
title_full Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
title_fullStr Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
title_short Analysis of body composition parameters: Associations with gender, age, and adiposity indices in adults
title_sort analysis of body composition parameters associations with gender age and adiposity indices in adults
topic body composition; body mass index; body fat mass index; fat-free mass index; adiposity
url https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4477
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AT mohdyasirzubair analysisofbodycompositionparametersassociationswithgenderageandadiposityindicesinadults
AT shahnawazalam analysisofbodycompositionparametersassociationswithgenderageandadiposityindicesinadults