Source
Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN:
Cross-sectional, non-experimental design.
OBJECTIVES:
(1) Determine the sensitivity and specificity of the general population body mass index (BMI) cutoff for obesity (30 kg m(-2)) in a representative sample of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) develop a more sensitive BMI cutoff for obesity based on percentage of fat mass (%FM) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
SETTING:
Ontario, Canada.
METHODS:
A total of 77 community-dwelling adults with chronic SCI underwent anthropometric measures (%FM by bioelectrical impedance analysis, length, weight, BMI (kg m(-2))) and provided blood samples to determine CRP. Sensitivity and specificity analyses, piecewise regression, non-linear regression, and receiver-operator characteristic curves were used to determine new BMI cutoffs.
RESULTS:
A BMI cutoff of 30 kg m(-2) failed to identify 73.9% of obese participants vs 26.1% at a lowered cutoff of 25 kg m(-2). BMI cutoffs based on risk levels of the %FM and CRP considered together ranged from 22.1 kg m(-2)-26.5 kg m(-2).
CONCLUSIONS:
People with chronic SCI and BMI values >22 kg m(-2) should be considered as being at high risk for obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases.
SPONSORSHIP:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.