A Study on the Correlation Between Indicators of Adiposity and Blood Pressure Among Students of College of Health Sciences Okofia

Obesity in children and adolescents has increased significantly in recent decades, resulting in the development of chronic diseases during adulthood. Body mass index is used for the diagnosis of obesity in adolescents, although it does not assess the distribution of body fat. This work was aimed at determining the correlation between selected indices of adiposity and blood pressure among CHS students. Sample size was calculated using the Yamane's formula. It consisted of four hundred (400) subjects, two hundred males and two hundred females (200males and 200females). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfolds and waist to hip ratio were measured appropriately. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft excel and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for correlation of adiposity indices and skinfold thicknesses with blood pressure. Descriptive statistical results showed that males had high values of waist hip ratio, and systolic blood pressure values than the females. The females showed higher values in body mass index, waist circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. In the results, body mass index, waist hip ratio, and waist circumference all correlated positively with blood pressure, the skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subscapular) showed positive and negative correlations with blood pressure. There was a weak to moderate correlation between the anthropometric indices of adiposity and skinfolds with blood pressure. However, body mass index showed strong and consistent correlation with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure in both male and female groups and thus, inference could be drawn that body mass index could be a better predictor of hypertension