Background; Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. According to the latest reports India is the third most obese country in the world. Obesity is a condition with excess body fat to the extent that health and well-being are adversely affected. As the obesity is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, assessment of obesity is important. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used tool to gauge obesity. There is difference of opinion whether BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat percentage.

Aim and Objectives: To assess the correlation between Body Mass index and body fat percentage.

Material and Methods; Study was conducted in adult male of age group 35-45 years. Height and weight are measured. BMI is calculated using the formula BMI= Weight (kg)/ Height (m2). The study group is divided in to three according to their BMI.  Group I, II and III consists of subjects with BMI less than 25, with BMI between 25-29.9 and BMI above 30 respectively. Fat percentage is assessed by hydro densitometry. Statistical methods ANOCVA, Kruskal – wallis test and correlation analysis is used to compare BMI and fat percentage Result: In my study, I found a correlation between Body mass Index and fat percentage.

Conclusion: Body mass index is a fair indicator to assess fat percentage.

Keywords: Body mass index, Fat percentage, Hydrodensitometry.

1. Deurenberg P, Deurenberg YM, Ethnic and geographic influences on body composition. In: Bray GA, Bouchard C, editors. Hand book of obesity- Etiology and Pathophysiology.2^nd New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, 2004; 81-92.
2. Maria P, Evagelia S. Obesity disease. Health Science Journal 2009: 3 (3) : 132-138.
3. Flier JS, Flier EM. Obesity. In: Kasper Braunwald, Fauci, Hauser Longo, Jameson, editors. Harrison Principles of Internal medicine Vol 1, 16 ed. Mc Graw hill, 2005; 422-9.
4. Ranasinghe C, Gamage P ,Katulanda P, andraweera N, Thilakrathne S, Thiranga p. Relationship between Body mass index and Body fat percentage estimated by bioelectrical impedance in a group of Srilankan adults, a cross sectional study. BMC public Health 2013, 13,797.
5. Meeuven S, Horgan G W, Elia M. Association between BMI and percentage body fat measured by bio electrical impedence in a large study sample is curvilinear and influenced by age and sex. Clinical Nutrition: 295) 2010 560-566.
6. Jebb S A. Measuring body composition from the laboratory to clinic. In:Koprlman P J, Stock MJ, editors. Clinical obesity. Black WELL SCIENCE, 1988; 18-49.
7. Brodie DA, techniques of measurement of body fat composition, Part1 . Sports med. 1988 Jan ; 5 (1): 11-40.
8. Ward A, Pollock ML, Jackson AS, Ayres JJ. A comparison of body fat determined by under water weighing and volume displacement. Am J physiol 1978 Jan 234 (1) 94-96.
9. Heymmsfield SBetal. Evaluation of total and regional adiposity. In: Bray GA, Bouchard C. Editors. Hand book of obesity- Etiology and pathophysiology.2^nd New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc,2004: 33-79.
10. Harik-Khan RI, Wise RA, Fleg JL. The effect of gender on the relationship between body fat distribution and lung function. Journal of clinical epidemiology. 2001 Apr 54(4): 399-406.
11. Hunter GR, Gower BA, Kane BL. Age reated shift in visceral fat . Int. J Body compos Res 2010 Sep 1: 8 (3); 103-108.

Dr Deepa Sanjeev Nair

Associate Professor, Dept of physiology,

MIMER Medical College, Talegaon (D), Pune Pin- 410507

Tel. 9326026733, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.