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Association of the body adiposity index (BAI) with metabolic risk factors in young and older overweight and obese women

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Abstract

Purpose

Body adiposity index (BAI) is a novel index for the assessment of percentage fat mass (FM%). We tested the association between BAI and metabolic outcomes in overweight and obese women of different ages.

Methods

260 young women (24.7 ± 5.3 years, 31.0 ± 5.0 kg/m2) and 328 older women (66.9 ± 4.6 years, 34.8 ± 4.7 kg/m2) were recruited. BAI was calculated using hip circumference and height. Bioimpedance analysis was used to measure FM%. Metabolic risk was assessed using a composite z score integrating standardised measurements of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, liver enzymes and triglycerides.

Results

The association between BAI and FM% was modest in both young (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and older (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) groups. BAI was directly associated with metabolic risk in young women (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), whereas it showed a weak, inverse association in the older group (r = −0.14, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

BAI validity needs to be re-assessed in older individuals for better definition of its predictive accuracy.

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Acknowledgments

MS collected the data (young cohort), designed the analysis, co-analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. CMP and SB co-analysed the data and revised the manuscript. JL advised on the statistical analysis and revised the manuscript. NG and EM collected the data (old cohort) and revised the manuscript. AC designed the study and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the findings of the study.

This work was supported by the core budget, Nutrition Physiology Unit, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Naples, Italy.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Campus of Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle, NE4 5PL, UK

    Mario Siervo & J. Lara

  2. Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, College of Human Sciences, The Florida State University, 436 Sandels Building, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1493, USA

    C. M. Prado

  3. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4AX, UK

    B. C. Stephan

  4. Human Nutrition and Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Naples, Via Pansini 5, 80134, Naples, Italy

    E. Muscariello, G. Nasti & A. Colantuoni

Authors
  1. Mario Siervo
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  2. C. M. Prado
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  3. B. C. Stephan
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  4. J. Lara
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  5. E. Muscariello
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  6. G. Nasti
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  7. A. Colantuoni
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Correspondence to Mario Siervo.

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Siervo, M., Prado, C.M., Stephan, B.C. et al. Association of the body adiposity index (BAI) with metabolic risk factors in young and older overweight and obese women. Eat Weight Disord 19, 397–402 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0077-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0077-0

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