Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(1): 13-18
International Journal of Health & Nutrition www.academyjournals.net
ISSN 1309 8071 Original Article
Assessment of Changes in Anthropometry and Body Composition With Progression of Age Among Occupationally Sedentary Adult Women Gurpreet KAUR, Kiran BAINS, Harpreet KAUR, Amrit KAUR Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Home-Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Basic Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Received: 16.09.2011
Accepted: 03.01.2012
Published: 06.04.2012
Abstract Objective: To assess changes in anthropometry and body composition among occupationally sedentary adult women with progression of age. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 152 occupationally sedentary adult women comprising of students, research fellows, assistant professors, associate professors and professors from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The subjects were divided into of four age groups i.e. 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years to assess changes in anthropometry and body composition with progression of age. Basic anthropometric measurements such as height, waist and hip circumference measurements were taken using standard methods. The derived anthropometric measurements viz. body mass index and waist and hip ratio were calculated. Weight and Body composition of the subjects was determined using bioelectrical impedance. Results: A gradual increase (p≤0.05) in anthropometric and body composition parameters such as weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, fat mass and visceral fat rating was observed with the advancement of age. The lean body mass decreased significantly (p≤0.01) as the age progressed, the values for four age groups being 74.9, 68.9, 62.8 and 60.9 %, respectively. Contrary to this, fat mass increased with age, the corresponding values for four age groups being 15.7, 21.4, 26.6 and 29.2 kg, respectively. Sarcopenic obesity was observed in 7, 14, 43 and 57 % of subjects in group I, II, III and IV, respectively. Prevalence of central obesity in four groups ranged between 36-86 %. The youngest age group showed the highest value of TBW%. Conclusion: Age was found to be a crucial factor associated with anthropometry and body composition of the subjects. Preservation of muscle mass and prevention of sarcopenia through appropriate diet and exercise can be a useful strategy to increase functional independence and to decrease the prevalence of age associated chronic diseases among population with sedentary life style. Keywords: Central obesity, Fat mass, Lean body mass, Sarcopenia
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Corresponding Author: K. Bains; e-mail:
[email protected], Phone: 91-7837700617
INTRODUCTION Advancing adult age is associated with profound changes in body composition, the principal component of which is decrease in skeletal muscle mass. This age related loss in skeletal muscle mass has been referred to as Sarcopenia. Age and inactivity induced sarcopenia explain losses in strength with age (Evans et al 1995). Sarcopenia is not the result of a
disease and it is seen in all aged adults. Sarcopenia markedly increases the risk of disability and loss of functional capacity in the elderly. As populations in developed countries continue to age, diagnosing, treating, and preventing sarcopenia will be progressively more important to the health and well-being of modern societies (Roubenoff, 2003). Asian Indian
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Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(1): 13-18
G, Kaur et al.
phenotypes have high body fat with relatively less BMI, less lean body mass and marked abdominal obesity. A growing number of urban women aged above 35 years are falling victim to sedentary life styles, rich food, lack of exercise and a gradual slowing down of metabolic rate. Healthy older individuals can take several measures to preserve and improve their health. Even if past nutritional and lifestyle practices were not optimal, much can be done to reduce the risk of chronic disease and disability in future years. The first challenge is to recognize and address the profound changes in body composition that occur with aging. Older persons tend to accumulate relatively more body fat and less lean body mass, muscle and bone. With a gain in body weight, which usually occurs, these changes are exaggerated. Older individuals generally develop lower metabolic rates because muscle tissue has a much higher metabolic rate than does fat tissue. Women experience changes in body composition similar to those in men, with changes becoming more prominent at menopause (Richard 2007). The weight gain in the past menopausal years is accompanied by changes in body composition and fat distribution toward a more android obesity, which is associated with metabolic syndrome. This later results in increased mortality, reflected by a closer association of mortality with the waist- hip ratio or waist circumference than with body mass index. The importance of measuring body composition has increased due to the need to evaluate changes in the nutritional status, which can affect body reserves differentially. Subjects can gain body fat, fat-free mass, cellular mass components as a result of overeating and sedentary lifestyle. These changes can only be detected by using valid body composition techniques. One of the important aspects of health of individuals is their nutritional status which is defined as a result of interaction of body composition, energy balance and body functionality. Body composition assessment in terms of lean body mass and fat mass is the best long term indicator of nutritional status. The occupationally sedentary women are prone to obesity and sarcopenia. Age is an important criterion, which contributes to these two metabolic disorders posing them to an increased risk of several degenerative diseases.
divided into four groups on the basis of their age i.e. 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 yrs. Basic anthropometric measurements such as height, waist and hip circumference measurements were taken using standard methods given by Jelliffe (1966). The derived anthropometric measurements viz. body mass index and waist and hip ratio were calculated. Weight and Body composition of the subjects was determined using bioelectrical impedance using TANITA Body composition analyzer BC-420MA. In body composition parameters viz. fat mass, muscle mass, bone mass, lean body mass, total body water and visceral fat rating were determined. Fat mass index (FMI): FMI was calculated using the following formula: FMI = FM in kilograms / (height in meters) 2 Fat free mass index (FFMI): FFMI was calculated using the following formula: FFMI = LBM in kilograms / (height in meters) 2 ANOVA was employed to assess the difference of anthropometry and body composition parameters of subjects in four age groups.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results revealed that all the subjects in age group I and II were menstruating while 19 and 80% of the subjects in the age group III and IV, respectively were in the menopausal stage. Pre and post menopausal status of the subjects was found to be significantly (p≤0.05) associated with fat mass, visceral fat rating, hip circumference, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio and body mass index (BMI). Poehlman et al (1995) reported that menopause is associated with reduced energy expenditure during rest and physical activity, an accelerated loss of fat-free mass, and increased central adiposity and fasting insulin levels. These changes may indicate a worsening cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile. Svendsen et al (1995) reported that in healthy women, total-body and abdominal fat may increase and lean body mass (LBM) may decrease in the years after menopause, primarily in the perimenopausal years, without significant changes before menopause. Anthropometric measurements There was no significant difference in the height of the subjects from four age groups. The subjects in all the age groups had height higher than the average height (151 cm) of Indian women (ICMR, 2000). The subjects in group I, II, III and IV were overweight by 2.3, 13.1, 22.2 and 24.2%, respectively, when compared with reference standards of 55.0 kg for adult women (ICMR, 2010). The results revealed that there was a gradual increase in body weight with an
MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and fifty two volunteer students and women faculty members who were working as Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and Research Fellows in different departments of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India and were in the age range of 21-60 years were recruited for this crossectional study. The subjects were
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Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(1): 13-18
G, Kaur et al. Caucasian adult women ranged between 21.3-24.9 kg/m2 . A higher BMI of the subjects was observed in the present study when compared to reported values in literature. Classification of the subjects according to BMI is shown in fig 1.
advancement of age. Ursula et al (2006) also reported an increase in body weight with an advancement of age. Sharan and Puttaraj (2006) reported that mean body weight of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 y old professional women employed in an electronic industry of Bangalore, India were 53.2, 56.2, 57.4 and 62.1 kg, respectively. The body weights were higher in the Punjabi women as compared to their counterparts from other parts of the country. Schutz et al (2002) reported that average body weights of healthy Caucasian adult women in the age group of 18-34, 35-54 and 55-74 yrs were 73.3, 74.7, 75.1 kg. The body weights of the subjects in the present study were closer to the reported study for older age groups. The results revealed that the subjects in group II, III and IV were overweight by 1.6, 9.1 and 15%, respectively when compared to an ideal BMI of < 25 kg/m2 (Garrow 1981). Jain and Singh (2003) observed that the mean BMI of professional women (20-50 yrs) from Rajasthan ranged between 27.8-28.9 kg/m2 . Kuriyan et al (2005) reported that BMI of 20-40 yrs old underweight, normal and overweight women from Bangalore was 17.0, 20.7 and 26.6 kg/m2, respectively. Schutz et al (2002) reported that the mean BMI of 18-74 yrs old
Figure 1 Classification of the subject according to BMI
Table 1 Anthropometric measurements of the subjects N =152 Groups I (21-30 yrs) n = 44
Range Anthropometric measurements Basic 33.0-87.5 Weight, kg 145.0-173.0 Height, cm 66.0-116.8 Waist circumference, cm 83.8-116.8 Hip circumference, cm Derived 14.7-32.6 Body mass index, kg/m2 0.68-1.45 Waist and Hip ratio
II (31-40 yrs) n = 36
III (41-50 yrs) n = 42
IV(51-60 yrs) n = 30
Mean±SD
Range
Mean±SD
Range
Mean±SD
Range
Mean±SD
56.3± 2.6bc 159.8±6.4 80.9±14.3abc
40.0-82.4 152.0-168.0 81.3-106.7
63.3±10.7 159.3±4.6 88.7±7.9 abcde
57.7-87.2 152.0-170.0 81.3-106.3
70.7±8.3 b 160.4±4.6 94.2±7.8 bd
48.9-112.3 148.0-167.0 81.3-116.8
72.6±15.1 c 157.9±5.3 94.9±10.9 ce
99.1±8.5 bc
92.7-119.4
99.1±22.0 de
101.6-121.9
110.6±6.23bd
101.6-142.2
112.9±10.9 ce
21.6-35.7
25.4±4.2
e
22.4-34.9
27.5±3.2
b
19.8-51.3
29.4±7.3
0.74-0.95
0.89±0.05
0.76-0.95
0.85±0.05
0.75-0.92
0.84±0.04
21.9±4.1
bc
0.82±0.14
The waist circumferences of the subjects in the present study were higher than that reported except for the youngest age group, indicating that occupationally sedentary Punjabi women had larger waist circumference. In another study Babitha and Kusuma (2009) reported that the waist circumferences of 18-50 yrs old obese and non- obese Rajasthani women were 83.2 and 67.7 cm, respectively. There was no significant increase in the hip circumference till the age of 40 years; however the hip circumference increased significantly (p≤0.05) after 40 years. Babitha and Kusuma (2009) reported that the hip circumference of normal Rajasthani Indian women in the age group of 18-50 y was 89.3cm, while it was 76.2 and 105.1 cm in underweight and
obese women, respectively. Nande et al (2009) studied that the hip circumference of normal, overweight, obese grade I and obese grade II housewives in the age group of 19-70 y from Maharashtra was 99.6, 109.4, 112.3 and 126.0 cm, respectively. Sharan and Puttaraj (2006) reported that the mean hip circumference of professional women from Bangalore was 93.6 cm. The hip circumference of women in the present study was much higher than their women counterparts from other states of India. The waist and hip ratio was maximum in group II, the reason being higher hip ratios in the older age groups i.e. 4150 and 51-60 yrs. The ideal waist and hip ratio should be
