Body Mass Index

ABSTRACT NAFLD is commonly develops among 40-50 years and even with non consumption of alcohol patient with any component of metabolic syndrome may develop hepatic steatosis. Waist circumference is the cost effective clinical tool to assess the obesity and NAFLD. Cross sectional study was conducted in Vijaya Sree Hospitals Gastro and Liver care centre; in Ongole city, Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. Ultrasonographically confirmed fatty liver cases visiting to hospital for the purpose of gastrointestinal and liver problems were enrolled in the study from January 2016 to May 2016. Pre tested, pre structured, validated questionnaire was used to get the information from the patients: Continuous variables were presented with descriptive analysis like mean ± standard deviation (SD). Pearson's correlation analysis was carried out between waist circumference and waist to hip ratio with body mass index. Among the total 184 study participants 142 (77.1%) were males and 42 (22.9%) were females. Out of total 184 NAFLD cases 70 (42.9%) were obese patients with BMI of more than 30kg/m2, whereas 54 (33.1%) were pre obese patients with BMI between 25 to 29.9 kg/m2. Positive correlation noticed between waist circumference and Body mass index with p value <0.05 and r value of 0.466 and Waist to Hip ratio showed a negative correlation with body mass Index (P>0.05). It was found that 62 (33.69%) cases were with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Waist circumference was found to be useful indicator for obesity with NAFLD patients in comparison with the waist to hip ratio. Significant association noticed between type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity of NAFLD patients. Strategies need to be planned to train health care workers and teachers about measuring the waist circumference and the body mass index and also interpretation Keywords: Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Waist to Hip Ratio, Hypertension