Age, body composition analysis, and gender differences of morbidly obese Omani subjects

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization has indicated that Gulf countries, including Oman, have the highest incidence of obesity. Objectives: This study aims to describe the changes in body composition values as an index among the morbidly obese population. We investigated the gender, age, and body mass index (BMI)-related differences in morbidly obese subjects. Methods: A retrospective, hospital-based study was carried out at the Royal Hospital, Muscat. Results: The study involved 104 morbidly obese subjects (35 males and 69 females) with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2. All enrolled study subjects were compared for their gender, BMI, and age. Significant trends were observed for body fat percentage, water percentage, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, bone mass and visceral fat between different genders in general, and between different genders within the same age frame (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed within the same gender regarding changes in BMI and weight gain (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Aging and changes in BMI have a significant effect on the body composition of morbidly obese individuals of different genders while showing no significant effects within the same genders.