Deciphering Body Composition by Techniques of Anthropometry and Bio- electrical Impedance Analysis: a Study in Community-dwelling Older Adults of West Bengal

Abstract The increasing prevalence of dual burden of malnutrition among the older adults indicates an alarming health situation in India. Body composition variables are well established as early recognizable risk indicator as well as, initial screening tool for assessment of malnutrition in dual forms. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is any relation between body composition variables estimated by two different techniques i.e., anthropometry and Bio-electrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) among the community-dwelling older adults. The study was carried out on 177 community-dwelling older adults of both sexes, residing in southern region of West Bengal. Body composition variables measured by anthropometry, like body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, waist to height ratio were measured using standard tools and procedures, and calculated. Other body composition parameters like body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass and subcutaneous tissues were measured using BIA principle. Pearson’s correlation (two-tailed) was performed using R 4.3.0. The study revealed the presence of significant (P<0.05) correlations between the body composition variables, measured by two different techniques