Body fat percent by bioelectrical impedance analysis and risk of coronary artery disease among urban men with low rates of obesity: The Indian paradox

Objective: To determine the association between body fat percent and preval ence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary risk factors in subjects with low rates of obesity. Subjects and Methods: We randomly selected 850 men, aged 25 to 64 years. Th e survey methods were questionnaire and bioelectrical impedance analysis fo r body composition. Subjects were divided into high-fat (n = 357). over-fat (n = 230), normal-fat (n = 200) and under-fat (n = 63) based on criteria o f body-fat percent analysis. Results: The prevalence of CAD and the coronary-risk factors hypercholester olemia, hypertension, diabetes, mellitus and sedentary lifestyle were signi ficantly associated with high and moderate body fat percent despite low bod y-mass index (23.6 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2)). Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure were significantly associated with high and moderate bod y fat percent. The prevalence of smoking was weakly but inversely associate d with high body-fat percent. Mean HDL cholesterol was positively associate d with high body-fat percent Body mass index was positively associated with high body-fat percent Conclusions: High and moderate body-fat-percent subjects were associated wi th high prevalence of CAD and the coronary-risk factors hypertension, diabe tes mellitus, higher body-mass index and sedentary lifestyle.