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Volume 7, Issue 6 (Suppl) J Obes Weight Loss Ther
ISSN: 2165-7904 JOWT, an open access journal Obesity Meeting 2017
October 23-24, 2017
October 23-24, 2017 Dubai, UAE
14th Global Obesity Meeting
Body fat percentage, BMI, skinfold thickness and waist circumference among young athletes in the
United Arab Emirates
Seham M AlRaish and Carine Platat
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Nutrition is a critical part of human health and development. However, overweight and obesity prevalence is raising
worldwide, with associated obesity related diseases. Body mass index (BMI) is an index of weight-for-height that is
commonly used to classify weight category, the skinfold measurement method is the most widely used body fat composition
testing method for assessing body fat percentage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of body weight,
body fat and waist circumference. A cross-sectional study among 59 male soccer players aged 13-18 years recruited from Al
Jazira Academic sports clubs in the United Arab Emirates were Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentages calculated
by different skinfold thickness and by body fat analyzer and waist circumference were calculated for each subject, WHO
classification was used for defining the cut points. The results indicate that the prevalence of underweight, overweight and
obesity were 1.69%, 6.7% and 0%, respectively while the healthy weight was 91.50%. The average mean body fat percentage
measured by body fat analyzer of the respondents was 16.46±3.28%. The mean body fat percentages calculated by different
skinfold thickness were: biceps 4.66±2.20 mm, triceps 7.44±2.58 mm, supra-iliac 7.55±2.94 mm and subscapular 8.17±2.00
mm. Skinfold reading for athletes fell into average for triceps was 55.91% and sub-scapular=72.85%. Waist circumference
classification according to NCHS waist percentiles show 69.60%, athletes fell into 5th-25th percentile and 26.80% in 50 th and the
rest were <5th. Our findings could be used in obesity awareness promotion and nutrition education program as it show there
are some athletes fell in unhealthy weight, skin fold and waist circumference category where they should be in optimal status
comparing to others. However, further investigation about the determinants of obesity and body fat, including age, sex, race
and nutrition and changes over time, is needed.
Biography
Seham M AlRaish is currently pursuing PhD at the United Arab Emirates University after completing her Master’s degree in Environmental Science. She has
published two posters in reputed conference.
Seham M AlRaish et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2017, 7:6 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7904-C1-051