Body Adiposity Index in Relation to Body Mass Index and Central Adiposity Measures in Preschool Children from Purulia, West Bengal, India

Introduction: Many indices are available to evaluate adiposity. A new index, body adiposity index (BAIp) (expressed in % fat) for children [Hip circumference (cm)/ Height (m)0.8) – 38] has been developed (El Aarbaoui et al., 2013). The objective of the present study was to use the index in a sample of preschool children to understand the association between BAIp and other anthropometric characteristics estimating adiposity. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and the participants were 2to 5-year-old preschoolers (505 boys and 463 girls) from Purulia district in West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements recorded were height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC); derived indices were body mass index (BMI) and adiposity measures including waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index (CI) and BAIp. Results: Mean age of the participants was 4.03 years. Significant sex differences (p< 0.05) of anthropometric characteristics were found with respect to the mean values of body weight, BMI, HC, WHR, CI, and BAIp. Mean value of BAIp was higher in girls (13.0%fat) than in boys (12.28%fat). The BAIp was highly correlated (p< 0.05) to WHtR (r= 0.87 in boys, 0.86 in girls) than to BMI (r= 0.36 in boys, 0.41 in girls) and CI (r= 0.52 in boys, 0.46 in girls). In linear regression models, adiposity measures were observed to be significantly related to BAIp in preschoolers; age and sex were other predictors; coefficient was highest for WHtR (78.89) and least for WC (0.34). Conclusion: The results confirmed the existing hypothesis that BAIp, as an index for the assessment of children’s body fatness, works with acceptable accuracy.