A study of correlation between skin-fold thickness and diastolic blood pressure among male sedentary workers (1971)

ABSTRACT

Obesity is generally considered to be associated with hypertension. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the degree of association between them; and to make a recommendation regarding the criterion or the point of body fatness above which could be regarded as unfavourable for healthy living as far as the associated hypertension is concerned. Analysis of data of 95 male sedentary workers (age 40-60 years) in Hlegu town is presented. There is a significant (P < 0.005) degree of association between the two variables. For every mm rise in skin-fold thickness, the diastolic blood pressure also rise by 1.11 to 2.41 mm Hg. Statistical prediction and estimation of diastolic blood pressure measurements are made for arbitrary levels of skin-fold measurements. It is recommended that' 12 mm ' be taken as the criterion of skin-fold measurement, above which may be regarded as unfavourable for healthy living as far as the associated diastolic blood pressure is concerned. 16 + or - 7 per cent of the specified group are found to constitute the population at risk, in whom the skin-fold and diastolic blood pressure measurements exceed 12 mm and 90 mm Hg respectively.