Quetelet-Index (Weight/Height) as a Measure for the Condition of Being Overweight for Dutch Elderly Persons (Quetelet-Index (Gewicht/Lengte2) als Maat voor Overgewicht bij Nederlandse Ouderen)

摘要

In a national survey of 531 apparently healthy Dutch elderly aged 65-79 years interrelationships between weight, height, weight-height indices (especially the Quetelet-index), body fat (assessed by skinfold measurements) and arm muscle circumference were investigated in order to evaluate the Quetelet-index as predictor of body fatness. In men the correlation coefficient between weight and body fat changed from 0.54 in the 65-69 years old to 0.33 in the 75-79 year age group. In women the coefficient of correlation between weight and body fat varies from 0.52 to 0.70 among the age groups. A relatively low correlation (r=0.49 in men, r=0.64 in women) was observed between Quetelet-index and body fat. The correlation of the Quetelet-index with height tended to increase in the older age groups. These results give rise to some doubt about the adequacy of the Quetelet-index as a measurement of fatness in the elderly.