Abstract

Background: The incidence of obesity is increasing alarmingly worldwide. Obesity not only affects organ systems but also the health of cell. The study of effect of body fat at cellular level by a non-invasive technique might bring significant changes in identification and treatment of these obese individuals.

Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to the correlation between phase angle (PhA) and body fat percentage in adult males and females.

Materials and Methods: After taking clearance from institutional ethical committee, this cross-sectional study was conducted on 324 healthy young adults (18–30 year) with following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Body composition analysis was done on 138 males and 186 females by bioelectric impedance analyzer QuadScan 2000. Bioelectrical impedance analyzer works on the principle of impedance which has two components resistance and reactance. Reactance causes the current to lag behind the voltage current creating a phase shift which is quantified geometrically as the angular transformation of the ratio of resistance to reactant or the PhA. Body fat percentage and PhA were measured in both the groups and correlated with SYSTAT-13.2 version.

Results: The mean value of body fat% in males was 16.55 ± 7.004 and as of PhA was 5.685 ± 0.913. In females, the mean value of body fat% was higher as compared to males (BF% in females = 24.195 ± 6.386) and the PhA was 5.205 ± 0.896. The correlation coefficient between BF% and PhA in males showed a value 0.3437 and in female showed a value of 0.209.

Conclusion: Our study clearly showed that a body fat percentage increased the PhA decreases in both the groups. Obesity or increasing body fat% has a detrimental effect on cell health.

Key words: Obesity; Phase Angle; Bioelectric Impedance Analyzer