Central Annals of Public Health and Research

Short Communication *Corresponding author

Samah Kotb Nasr Eldeen, contact address, Riyadh,

Relationship between Body Saudi Arabia, Tel: 966562302414; Email:

Mass Index (BMI) and Body

Submitted: 23 February 2017
Accepted: 22 March 2017
Published: 24 March 2017

Fat Percentage in a Group of Copyright

© 2017 Nasr Eldeen et al.

Saudi Arabian Adults OPEN ACCESS

Keywords
Samah Kotb Nasr Eldeen*, Raghdaa Al-Buni, Afnan Al Yami, and • Body mass index
• Body fat percentage
Huda Alali
• Obesity
Clinical laboratories science department, INAYA medical college,Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body mass index
(BMI) and body fat percentage (% BF) among 100 healthy adults (ages, 19–30 y)
from a group of Saudi Arabian adults, during 2016. In this study examined adults were
divided into four groups after calculating BMI, and after the correlation between BMI
and %BF. The obtained results show that there are significantly more (p < 0.05) males
(ages, 19-30) with a healthy weight than females. The correlation between BMI and
%BF was very strong, positive, among examined females (r = 0.9) and males (r = 1). In
a group with normal % BF and increased BMI there were significantly more (p < 0.01)
males than females, and the opposite situation were in a group with normal BMI and
% BF, where it was significantly more (p < 0.05) females than males. Obtained results
show that the majority of adults in the Saudi Arabia have normal body weight, with a
tendency of increase, especially among females who are more prone to unbalanced
nutrition.

INTRODUCTION of the body and present a measure of fitness level, regardless of

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive
fat accumulation in the body that may impair health which is an
agency of the United Nations, established in 1948, concerned with
improving the health of the world’s people and preventing or
controlling communicable diseases on a worldwide basis through
various technical projects and programs. Excessive body fat is
associated with increased metabolic risk, and its’ measurement
is important in implementing curative and preventive health
measures. The most commonly used surrogate measure for
prediction of body fat percentage (BF %) is body mass index
(BMI) [1]. World Health Organization [2] also recommends BMI
as the most useful population level measure of overweight and
obesity, and is used as the same for both sexes and in all ages of
adults.
Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI), it can be determined
which person is overweight or obese. BMI range varies with
the age and sex of the adults (Table 1). WHO (2016) defined
overweight adults as a BMI at or above 25 kg/m2, obesity adults
as a BMI at or above 30 kg/m2 and underweight adults as a BMI
less than18.50 kg/m2
height and weight, is body fat percentage (% BF). Widespread
application of body mass index (BMI) affords a measure which
enables comparison with the overweight of individuals of
different heights and weights.
So we studied sub-population of Saudi Arabian adults from
INAYA medical college, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to determine the
relationship between BMI and BF %, age-BMI and age-BF %.
We wish to present our results which would add more evidence
to the ongoing discussion; as they were derived from an ethnic
group which was not studied before.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study population
During 2016, 100 healthy adults (ages, 19-30 years) were
examined. The participants were randomly recruited (who
volunteered) from those attending clinical laboratories science
open day conducted by clinical laboratories science department,
INAYA medical college, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire
was used to determine demographic data (gender, age).

BMI range varies with the age of the adults. The only body Anthropometry
measurement that directly calculates the relative composition Measurement of the body mass was performed using a decimal

Cite this article: Nasr Eldeen SK, Al-Buni R, Al Yami A, Alali H (2017) Relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage in a Group of
Saudi Arabian Adults. Ann Public Health Res 4(2): 1059.
 Nasr Eldeen et al. (2017)
Email:

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Table 1: The International Classification of adult underweight, com). All parameters were represented by descriptive statistical
overweight and obesity according to BMI. parameters (mean, standard deviation).One-factor analysis
Classification BMI(kg/m2) of variance-ANOVA and post Tukey test were used for testing
Principal cut-off Additional cut-off differences among BMI of examined females and males of the
points points same age with healthy weight. For examination the ratio of
Underweight <18.50 <18.50 BMI to BF we used Pearson correlation coefficients was used
     Severe thinness <16.00 <16.00 to compare frequencies among females and males in different
categories of adolescent, divided into four groups (normal BMI
     Moderate thinness 16.00 - 16.99 16.00 - 16.99
and BF, increased BMI and normal BF, normal BMI and increased
     Mild thinness 17.00 - 18.49 17.00 - 18.49
BF, and increased BMI and BF).
18.50 - 22.99
Normal range 18.50 - 24.99
23.00 - 24.99 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Overweight ≥25.00 ≥25.00 Nutrition has exerted a role in human evolution [4,5]. Tables
25.00 - 27.49 (2) and (3) showed characteristics of the adults, by sex and age.
     Pre-obese 25.00 - 29.99
27.50 - 29.99 Laurson et al. [6], claimed that the BMI thresholds were more
     Obese ≥30.00 ≥30.00 strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in males than in
30.00 - 32.49 females. In our results females become obese earlier than males
          Obese class I 30.00 - 34.99
32.50 - 34.99 with 21 years (16.6%), while males get fat with 22 years (20%).
35.00 - 37.49 females are quick to develop, complete with the growth and
          Obese class II 35.00 - 39.99
37.50 - 39.99 metabolism of them is different from males. At the age of 21, 23
          Obese class III ≥40.00 ≥40.00 and 27 all the males have normal weights, while in females have
normal weights at age 25 only. Females in ages from 22 to 30
scale in kilograms, after the removal of shoes and excess clothing. years have a problem with overweight [7]. Poor nutrition and
Height was measured without shoes, using a mounted metal lack of appropriate physical activity are major cause of obesity.
centimeter ruler. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as The obtained results showed that the majority of examined adults
ratio between weight in kilograms and height in meters squared are in the group of healthy weight. But, also we can concluded
(weight in kg/heightm2). BMI were calculated, and world health that there is significantly more (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) males (ages,
organization (WHO) standards were used to classify adults as 21-29) with a healthy weight than females (Table 3). A significant
underweight (BMI <18.50 kg/m2, healthy weight (BMI= 18.50 positive correlation was observed between BMI-BF%, in males (r
- 24.99kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥ 25), obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) =1, p < 0.05; SE = 0.3) and in females (r = 0.9, p < 0.05; SE = 0.5) of
(Table 1). all ages (Figure 1 & 2) and this results agreed with Chatmhuranga
Deurenberg et al. [3], derived formulae for estimate the body et al. [8].
fat (% BF) from the BMI. For these calculations, age and sex More than a half of respondents had a normal BMI and % BF
must be included for determination the relationship between (Figure 3). In a groups with normal % BF and increased BMI and
densitometrically determined body fat percentage (%BF) and increased BMI and %BF there were significantly more (p < 0.01)
BMI. Internal and external cross-validation of the prediction males than females, and the opposite situation were in a group
formulas showed that they gave valid estimates of body fat, with normal BMI and % BF, where it was significantly more (p
between sex at all ages. However, the prediction formulas slightly < 0.05) females than males and this results agreed with Jelena
overestimated the BF %. The prediction error is comparable to
et al. [9].There is no one in a group with normal BMI and high %
the prediction error obtained with other methods of estimating
BF (Figure 4). Obtained results emphasize the limitations of BMI
BF %, such as skin fold thickness measurements and bioelectrical
as a marker of adiposity among non-overweight adults. Because
impedance. The most commonly used formula for relationship
of the variability in the levels of fat mass, weight–height index
between BMI and BF% in children is present by Deurenberg et
needs to be carefully discussed. The high levels of BMI-for-age
al. [3].
are associated with substantial increases in fat mass, so the index
Child body fat % = is most useful as a measure of obesity [9].
(1.51 × BMI ) − ( 0.70 × Age ) − ( 3.6 × sex ) + 1.4 CONCLUSIONS
Adult body fat % = Based on obtained data, in this study, it can be concluded
(1.20 × BMI ) + ( 0.23 × Age ) − (10.8 × sex ) − 5.4 that the majority of adults in the Saudi Arabia have normal body
weight, with a tendency of increase, especially among females.
where sex is 1 for males, and 0 for females. There is strong relationship between BMI and % BF among
Statistical analyses examined females and males and because of the variability in body
fat, BMI needs to be carefully discussed. Prevention programs
Statistical analysis of the results was conducted using might attempt to improve the situation of Saudi Arabian adults
software GrapfPad Prism 5.00 (Version 5.00 for Windows, by promoting more regular physical activities with a reduction
Graph Pad Software, San Diego California USA, www.graphpad. in sedentary activities and improving healthy dietary behaviours.

Ann Public Health Res 4(2): 1059 (2017) 2/5

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Table 2: Body Mass Index classification according to age among females (n = 50).
BMI Rangekg/m2
underweight<18.50 Healthy (18.50 - 24.99) Overweight ≥25.00 Obese ≥30.00
Age n % n % n % n %
19 (n = 5) 1 20 4 80 0 0 0 0
20 (n = 6) 2 33.3 3 50 1 16.6 0 0
21 (n = 6) 0 0 3 50 1 16.6 1 16.6
22 (n = 7) 1 14.2 2 33.3 2 33.3 2 33.3
23 (n = 3) 0 0 1 33.3 2 66.6 0 0
24 (n = 3) 0 0 1 33.3 2 66.6 0 0
25 (n = 4) 0 0 3 75 0 0 0 0
26 (n = 3) 0 0 2 66.6 1 33.3 0 0
27 (n = 3) 0 0 2 66.6 1 33.3 0 0
28 (n = 3) 0 0 2 66.6 1 33.3 0 0
29 (n = 3) 0 0 2 66.6 1 33.3 0 0
30 (n = 4) 0 0 3 75 1 25 0 0

Table 3: Body Mass Index classification according to age among males (n = 50).
BMI Rangekg/m2
underweight<18.50 Healthy (18.50 - 24.99) Overweight ≥25.00 Obese ≥30.00
Age n % n % n % n %
19 (n = 3) 1 33.3 1 33.3 1 33.3 0 0
20 (n = 3) 2 66.6 1 33.3 1 33.3 0 0
21 (n = 3) 0 0 3 100 0 0 0 0
22 (n = 5) 0 0 2 40 0 0 1 20
23 (n = 6) 0 0 4 66.6 0 0 0 0
24 (n = 7) 0 0 5 71.4 2 28.5 0 0
25 (n = 4) 0 0 2 50 2 50 0 0
26 (n = 6) 0 0 3 50 3 50 0 0
27 (n = 3) 0 0 3 100 0 0 0 0
28 (n = 3) 0 0 0 0 3 100 0 0
29 (n = 3) 0 0 3 100 0 0 0 0
30 (n = 4) 0 0 2 50 2 50 0 0

40

35

30

25
BF %

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

BMI

Figure 1 Correlation between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (% BF) for 50females19 to 30 years old.

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30

25

20

BF % 15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

BMI

Figure 2 Correlation between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (% BF) for 50males19 to 30 years old.

30
24.4 24
25 22.1
22 21.8 21.6 22.1
22 23
21.6
20.9 20.9 20.7 20.9 20.9
20.4 20.2 20
18.1 18.6 18.9
20 16.8
16.7
BMI

15

10

5
0
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

age

male female

Figure 3 The BMI of examined females and males with healthy weight. groups (1= 19y, 2= 20 y, 3= 21y, 4= 22y,5= 23 y, 6= 24y, 7= 25 y,8=26y,9=
27 y, 10= 28y, 11= 29 y,12=30y)p < 0.05.

40

35

30

25

20
%

15

10

0
1 2 3 4

male female

Figure 4 Participation of adults in different investigated groups (1= normal BMI and BF, 2= increased BMI and normal BF, 3= normal BMI and
increased BF, and 4= increased BMI and BF) p < 0.01.

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Cite this article
Nasr Eldeen SK, Al-Buni R, Al Yami A, Alali H (2017) Relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage in a Group of Saudi Arabian Adults.
Ann Public Health Res 4(2): 1059.
Ann Public Health Res 4(2): 1059 (2017)
Nasr Eldeen et al. (2017)
Email:
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