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Cited by 580Body Composition Measurement TechniquesObesity, Physical Activity, DietDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

The paradox of low body mass index and high body fat percentage among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

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Deurenberg-Yap, M, Schmidt, G, van Staveren, WA, Deurenberg, P·2000·International Journal of Obesity
DOI 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801353
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Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) in three different ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malays and Indians) in order to evaluate the validity of the BMI cut-off points for obesity.Design Cross-sectional study.Subjects Two-hundred and ninety-one subjects, purposively selected to ensure adequate representation of range of age and BMI of the general adult population, with almost equal numbers from each ethnic and gender group.Measurements Body weight, body height, sitting height, wrist and femoral widths, skinfold thicknesses, total body water by deuterium oxide dilution, densitometry with Bodpod(R) and bone mineral content with Hologic(R) QDR-4500. Body fat percentage was calculated using a four-compartment model.Results Compared with body fat percentage (BF%) obtained using the reference method, BF% for the Singaporean Chinese, Malays and Indians were under-predicted by BMI, sex and age when an equation developed in a Caucasian population was used. The mean prediction error ranged from 2.7% to 5.6% body fat. The BMI/BF% relationship was also different among the three Singaporean groups, with Indians having the highest BF% and Chinese the lowest for the same BMI. These differences could be ascribed to differences in body build. It was also found that for the same amount of body fat as Caucasians who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 (cut-off for obesity as defined by WHO), the BMI cut-off points for obesity would have to be about 27 kg/m2 for Chinese and Malays and 26 kg/m2 for Indians.Conclusions The results show that the relationship between BF% and BMI is different between Singaporeans and Caucasians and also among the three ethnic groups in Singapore. If obesity is regarded as an excess of body fat and not as an excess of weight (increased BMI), the cut-off points for obesity in Singapore based on the BMI would need to be lowered. This would have immense public health implications in terms of policy related to obesity prevention and management.

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Authors
Deurenberg-Yap, M., Schmidt, G., van Staveren, W., & Deurenberg, P.
Affiliations
  • Nanyang Technological University (SG)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2000-08
Volume
24
Issue
8
Pages
1011-1017
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
DOI
10.1038/sj.ijo.0801353
OpenAlex
W2115402569
Cited by
580
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 25
FWCI
9.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Nanyang Technological University
  • Wageningen University and Research
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
body mass index, body fat percentage, ethnic differences, Chinese, Malay language, Indians, Singapore, body build, four-compartment model, skinfold thickness, deuterium dilution, densitometry, bone mineral content, obesity prevention
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Body Composition, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, India, Malaysia, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Singapore, Absorptiometry, Photon, Body Mass Index, Deuterium Oxide, White People, Asian People

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