BMI Analysis of a Sample of Healthy Young Italian Women Volume 2 - Issue 4

Eleonora Gallo and Giorgio M Baratelli*

• Centro di Senologia della LILT, Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori, di Como e Gravedona, Italy

Received: February 10, 2021   Published: February 24, 2021

Corresponding author: Giorgio M Baratelli, Centro di Senologia della LILT, Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori, di Como e Gravedona, Italy

DOI: 10.32474/JCCM.2021.02.000152

 

Abstract PDF

Short Communication

The data collected for a research on breast density allowed to study the body mass index (BMI) of a sample of healthy young Italian women, visited in two breast clinic of the LILT, Lega Italiana per la Lotta controiTumori.

Methods

The study included 201 healthy women, aged 19 to 40 years, who participated in a spontaneous screening for breast cancer, in November and December 2020, in two breast clinics of LILT (Como and Gravedona).

Among the data collected for the study of breast density in young women, the anthropometric values of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were recorded.

Anthropometry parameters (height, weight and BMI) are the best tools for evaluation of nutrition status of children and adults.

The body mass index [body weight (kg) / height m2] also known as Quetelet Index [1] is though somewhat a crude index for assessing the nutritional parameters, yet is an index of choice for clinical and research purposes, classifying thinness, under weight, normal weight ,overweight and obesity in adults [2,3].

Results

70% of 201 women have a normal weight, while 30% have weight abnormalities, respectively 13% are thinness and underweight and 16% are overweight and obesity. We examined also the changes in BMI in2 groups of women: women aged19 to 30 and women aged 31 to 40.

The difference of BMI in the two group is not significant, the BMI is respectively 29% in the first and33%, in the second group.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that it is necessary to promote a good nutrition education program in the Italian first and second-degree schools because healthy eating habits and lifestyles learned as children or teenagers will be more easily maintained in adulthood.

Schools should play an important role in helping students establish healthy eating behaviors, namely by providing: proper food and drink, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, ways to learn about and practice healthy eating [4,5].

This is very important especially regarding over-weight and obesity, that area serious health issue and an independent risk factor for several oncological, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [6].

References

1. Eknoyan G (2008) Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874) The average man and indices of obesity. Nephrol Dial Transplant 23: 47–51.
2. https://apps.who.int/nutrition/landscape/help.aspx?menu=0&helpid=392&lang=EN
3. WHO (1995) Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO expert committee. Technical report series no. 854. World Health Organization, Switzerland.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) Comprehensive Framework for Addressing the School Nutrition Environment and Services. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) School health guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 60(RR-5): 1–76.
6. Choudhary AK, Donnelly LF, Racadio JM, Strife JL (2007) Diseases associated with childhood obesity. AJR Am J Roentgenol 188(4): 1118–1130.