EFFECT OF ABDOMINAL FAT ON DYNAMIC LUNG FUNCTION TESTS

Abstract

Obesity is an important health problem in developing countries particularly in India. Specifically, abdominal obesity is associated with greater health risk than lower body obesity. Obesity is measured using waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). The association between body mass index, waist circumference and dynamic pulmonary function test(PFT) variables indifferent populations shows controversial results. Hence we undertook this study. 120 healthy sedentary employees were taken of 30-40 age groups, who worked in an air conditioned environment of a private motor vehicle showroom, Mangalore, for a minimum of six years. Their anthropometric measurements-height, weight, waist-hip circumference, chest expansion are measured to calculate body mass index, waist-hip ratio and total body fat%. Spirometry was performed after informed consent in all these subjects. FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEFR, FEF 25-75 was recorded. When PFT variables of low BMI and overweight BMI group is compared with that of normal BMI group, the result shows inverse relation between BMI, WC and FEV1/FVC which indicates an obstructive airway diseases would worsen the situation in genetically prone high BMI subjects. FEF25-75 varies proportionately with BMI indicates malnutrition unfavorably influences the lung functions.