LAUSR

Abstract Background: Patients with normal weight obesity (NWO) have a normal body mass index (BMI) but elevated body fat percentage (BF%), thereby increasing their risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. 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 participants 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. Participants 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 cholesterol (TC) to high density lipoprotein and in females, the presence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (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.