Bariatric patient's body composition: An option to BMI?

BACKGROUND:Bariatric surgery is one of the best treatments for obesity. This indication includes an evaluation of body mass index (BMI) that does not consider the body composition of an individual. AIM:To determine the body composition of bariatric surgery candidates. METHODS:Patients treated at a tertiary care centre for obesity were evaluated. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). All measures of BIA and surgical indication were analysed. RESULTS:We evaluated 407 subjects, 87 (21.4%) men, with a mean age of 36 years. In men with indications for bariatric surgery, the mean ± SD body fat percentage (%BF) was 45.1 ± 5.39%, and the mean ± SD visceral fat area was 243.6 ± 33.79 cm2. In women with indications for bariatric surgery, the mean ± SD %BF was 50.7 ± 3.3%, and the mean ± SD visceral fat area was 241.7 ± 24.77 cm2. CONCLUSION:This study showed different body compositions between men and women and parameters of %BF and visceral fat area evaluated by BIA.