Obesity is a commonly encountered health problem in the young adult population of today. It is negatively associated to the pulmonary functions. Weight and body mass index (BMI) are used as the measures of overall adiposity whereas waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) are used as the measures for abdominal obesity. The nature of relationship of Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) with markers of adiposity is not clear. Hence we performed this study is to study the Impact of adiposity markers (WHR, BMI and WC) on PEFR in young adults.  One hundred young healthy male and female volunteers between 17-30 years of age without any majors or minor illnesses, were selected for the study, based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Waist circumference (WC) and Hip circumference were measured and WHR was calculated. PEFR was recorded on a Digital portable desktop spirometer of COSMED model Pony FX. We found that PEFR and WHR have a statistically significant negative correlation in males. PEFR is negatively associated to BMI and WC in males, although the correlation is not significant. In females no correlation was found between PEFR and WHR /BMI or WC.

Key words: waist hip ratio, PEFR , BMI, young adult, waist circumference.

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