Body fat percentage, BMI and skinfold thickness among medical students in Sabah, Malaysia

Nutrition is a critical part of human health and development. However, overweight and obesity prevalence are rising worldwide, with associated diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other diet-related conditions. Body mass index (BMI) is an index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. The skin-fold measurement method is the most widely used body fat composition testing method for assessing body fat percentage. The objective of the study was to measure the body weight and body fat of medical students of Sabah, Malaysia by using different types of nutritional assessment methods. A cross-sectional study among the selected Year 2 medical students of School of Medicine, University Malaysia Sabah was conducted using different types of nutritional assessment. The average BMI and mean body fat percentage measured by body fat analyzer of the re-spondents were 21.95±0.59 kg/m2, and 16.98±1.37% respectively. The mean body fat percentages calculated by different skinfold thickness were: abdominal 24.13±1.11%, supra-iliac 20.35±1.35%, subscapular 21.83±1.01%, and alternative three-site 19.46±1.02%. In reliability testing, results are variable between male and female – internal consistency of the alternative three-sites skinfold calculation for body fat percentage showed male (excellent) and female (acceptable), and skinfold reading for body fat percentage for triceps, abdomen, sub-scapular and supra-iliac showed male (good) and female (poor to acceptable). Our findings could be used in obesity awareness promotion among Malaysian youth. However, further investigation about the determinants of obesity and body fat, including age, sex, race, nutrition, and changes over time, is needed.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/seajph.v4i1.21838 South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.4(1) 2014: 35-40