Correlation Study Of Adiposity Markers And Abdominal Strength With Pulmonary Functions In Indian Adult Population

Introduction: In obese people presence of adipose tissue around the rib cage, abdomen and in the visceral cavity loads the chest wall and reduces chest wall expansion which in turn reduces the pulmonary functions. In obesity, abdominal muscle strength is also decreased which in turn affects pulmonary functions. So the present study was conducted to investigate whether there is correlation between various adiposity markers like Body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio and abdominal strength with pulmonary function parameters like, FVC, FEV1 and MVV. Methods and Materials: The Present study was conducted on 80obese and non- obese subjects of both the sex between 30 to 55years of age. The parameters studied were anthropometry measurements (height, weight, BMI), adiposity markers (waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio) and abdominal strength with Pulmonary functions. Results: There was statistically significant reduced pulmonary functions among the obese (BMI-28.99+3.34kg/m2)subjects compared to non-obese (BMI -22.81+3.48kg/m2) subjects. Among the adiposity markers BMI shows negative correlation with pulmonary parameters like FVC, FEV1and MVV. While waist circumference, waist hip ratio did not show any correlation with PFT parameters and abdominal muscle strength shows positive correlation with PFT parameters. Conclusion: It is well recognized that obesity affects the mechanics and physiology of the respiratory system. The result suggests that BMI is an important and better predictor of pulmonary function than abdominal adiposity markers. Poor abdominal muscle strength affects pulmonary functions adversely.