Exploring the Relationship Between the Indices of Body Composition With Grip Strength Performance and Peak VO2

Background The importance of measurements of body composition in terms of various indices including Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Surface Area (BSA), Body Size Index (BSI), and Waist to Height ratio (WtHR) in the diagnosis of health risks and mortality outcome analysis has largely been limited to their use relating to determining abdominal obesity. The understanding of the extent of implications of the newer, underutilized indices of body composition is deficient. Peak VO₂ (maximal oxygen uptake) majorly serves for the evaluation of the measure of aerobic capacity. Grip strength performance is a simple, primary, objective predictor of overall physical status and muscular and cardiovascular fitness. This study aimed to derive the relationship between a gamut of parameters such as BMI, BSA, WtHR, BSI, grip strength performance and peak VO₂ investigated using the latest scientific methodology in a cross-section of the population in a rural tertiary care center. Methodology This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in a rural medical college in central India. Sixty participants from the healthcare setting were considered eligible for the study within the age group of 18 to 45 years. Anthropometric assessments like height (in cm), weight (in kg), waist circumference (in cm), and BMI were carried out. BSA, WtHR, and BSI were calculated using the respective formulae. VO₂ max (maximal oxygen uptake) recordings were done using the treadmill/ergometer and metabolic module of LabChart software (Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia). Grip Strength Performance was quantified by measuring the amount of static force with which the hand is able to squeeze a transducer. It was measured using Grip Force Transducer (MLT004 / ST) from AD Instruments (Bella Vista, New South Wales, Australia). Results Upon analysis, a significant negative correlation was obtained between BSI and BMI (r= -0.51, p<0.0001) whereas a significant positive correlation was found between BSA and BMI (r= 0.71, p< 0.0001). A significant correlation was also seen between WtHR and BMI (r= 0.71, p< 0.0001) while a negative significant correlation between peak VO₂ and BMI (r= -024,p=0.0425) was deduced. Similarly, a negative correlation was evident between BSA and BMI (r= -0.46, p=0.0002) with a positive correlation between WtHR and BSA (r= 0.30,p=0.0188). Grip strength performance positively correlated with BSA (r= 0.58, p< 0.0001) whereas peak VO₂ showed a significant negative correlation with WtHR (r= -026,p=0.043). There was also a positive significant correlation between grip strength performance and peak VO₂ (r= 0.37, p=0.0033) Conclusion The study determined the relationships of grip strength performance and peak VO₂, with the body composition indices in order to provide an overview of the mortal risks of an individual which might mediate the prognosis. Based on the relative independence of BSI with peak VO₂ and grip strength performance, the unification of these parameters can help assess the overall health of an individual.