Comparison of body mass index, body fat percentage and neck circumference as tools for evaluation of obesity

Chitra Pillai, Prasad Udhoji, Sachin Rathod, Kanagasabapathy Pillai

Abstract
Aims & Objective: To assess whether Neck Circumference (NC) can be used as a tool to evaluate body mass status.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a Medical College Hospital after obtaining necessary permission from the institute and Ethics Committee. Every subject was informed about the test, the measurements those need to be taken, the aim of the study and signed consent form was taken from every subject. Total of 228 subjects, 136 males and 92 females participated in this study. Their BMI, BFP and NC were recorded and tested for correlation of NC with BMI and with BFP. The statistical analysis was done by Linear regression analysis performed using Graph Pad Prism version 5.00 for Windows, Graph Pad Software, San Diego, California, USA.

Results: The correlation between the parameters was found to be significant in all the subjects and also in the male and female subjects taken separately with a p value of < 0.0001.

Conclusion: This result suggests that NC can be used as a screening tool for evaluation of obesity instead of BMI & BFP.

Key words: Body Mass Index; Body Fat Percentage; Neck Circumference