BODY-COMPOSITION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND ANTHROPOMETRIC FACTORS IN CHINESE ADULTS

To evaluate the relationship of body composition with physical activit y and other anthropometric factors, a group of 437 healthy Chinese men and women were recruited. Body composition was measured using the bio electric impedance technique. Levels of physical activity (LPA) were c lassified as light, moderate and heavy. Anthropometric factors evaluat ed included body mass index (BMI), ponderal index (PI), waist-to-hip r atio (WHR), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid-arm circumference, m id-forearm circumference, arm muscle circumference (AMC) and arm muscl e area (AMA). Sex was found to be highly associated with body composit ion, with females having a higher percentage of body fat and males hav ing a higher percentage of body lean mass. This gender difference was independent of age, physical activity or other anthropometric factors. An increased level of physical activity was associated with higher bo dy lean mass and lower body fat. Sex, LPA, TSF, PI and WHR were all en tered into the regression equations to estimate body composition. Sex and physical activity have an independent effect on body composition a nd the commonly used estimators for adiposity and fat distribution suc h as BMI, PI, TSF and WHR are closely correlated with body composition .