Short stature is related to high body fat composition despite body mass index in a Mexican population

Background. Mexico has a high prevalence of short stature (SS) population; thus, body mass index (BMI) criteria for diagnosis of obesity should be different from that in a tall stature (TS) population. The aim of this study was to determine whether SS at the same BMI would have greater body fat mass than those with TS. Methods. We studied 116 individuals, 58 with SS (women less than or equal to1.50 m and men less than or equal to51.60 m). matched by gender, age ( 5 years), and BMI (+/-2). Body fat was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results. Paired comparisons between matched subjects showed that SS have greater body fat percentage than TS (Delta = 1.40%, p = 0.04). Subjects with BMI greater than or equal to25 and SS showed higher difference (Delta = 4.2%, p = 0.004) in body fat percentage. Subjects with SS have more body fat percentage than TS. Conclusions. This finding supports the hypothesis that in SS population BMI for diagnosis of obesity must be re-evaluated; from these results, we propose that diagnosis of obesity in SS be from BMI of 25. (C) 2003 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.