The relationship between BMI and percent body fat, measured by bioelectrical impedance, in a large adult sample is curvilinear and influenced by age and sex

Meeuwsen, S., Horgan, G.W. and Elia, M. (2010) The relationship between BMI and percent body fat, measured by bioelectrical impedance, in a large adult sample is curvilinear and influenced by age and sex. Clinical Nutrition. (doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2009.12.011).

Abstract

Objective: the study aimed to establish the effects of age, gender and age–gender interactions on BMI–% fat relationships over a wide range of BMI and age. It also aimed to examine controversies regarding linear or curvilinear BMI–% fat relationships.

Methods: body composition was measured using validated bio-impedance equipment (Bodystat) in a large self-selected sample of 23,627 UK adults aged 18–99 (99% ?70) years, of which 11,582 were males with a mean BMI of 26.3 ± 4.7 (sd) kg/m2, and 12,044 females, with a mean BMI of 25.7 ± 5.1 kg/m2. Multiple regression analysis was used.

Results: BMI progressively increased with age in women and plateaued between 40 and 70 years in men. At a fixed BMI, body fat mass increased with age (1.9 kg/decade), as did % fat (1.1–1.4% per decade). The relationship between BMI and % fat was found to be curvilinear (quadratic) rather than linear, with a weaker association at lower BMI. There was also a small but significant age–gender interaction.

Conclusion: the association between BMI and % body fat is not strong, particularly in the desirable BMI range, is curvilinear rather than linear, and is affected by age.

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