Normal weight XXXX among young adults in Trinidad and Tobago: prevalence and associated factors.

@entity1 @entity3610 @entity28 @entity65 @entity165
BACKGROUND: @entity1 with normal weight @entity28 (NWO) have a normal body mass index (BMI) but elevated body fat percentage (BF%), thereby increasing their risk of @entity65 . The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of NWO and its associated factors in a sample of young adults in Trinidad and Tobago (T_T). METHODS: A cross sectional study involving a convenience non-voluntary sample of @entity1 with a normal BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 was conducted. The following information was collected: history, basic anthropometric measurements, including BF% via the Tanita Ironman Body Composition Analyzer (BC554), physical examination and basic blood investigations. @entity1 were divided into two groups; normal BF% (<23.1% males, <33.3% females) and elevated BF% (>= 23.1% males, >= 33.3% females). RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-six students participated, F:M (2.1:1), aged 18-28 years [Mean 21.33 (SD 2.5)], mean BMI 21.66 (SD 1.9). A response rate of 80.3%. The prevalence of NWO for this population was 19.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 15.1-25.7]. Males 14.4% (95% CI 10.3-19.7) and females 5.5% (95% CI 3.1-9.5). Variables with a statistically significant association with NWO included gender, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (BP), the ratio of total @entity165 (TC) to high density lipoprotein and in females, the presence of @entity3610 ( @entity3610 ) (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression revealed that predictors of NWO were male gender and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: One in five of this young adult population was found to have NWO. Long-term studies are recommended to study the full implications of these findings.
