ArticleBMC public health2026
Gender as a moderator of the relationships among body composition, physical activity, basal metabolic rate, and BMI in Taiwanese university students.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundEarly adulthood exhibits rapid weight gain. While body composition, physical activity (PA), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) drive weight regulation, gender complicates these interactions. It remains unclear if gender moderates the associations of these factors with BMI. Clarifying this aids obesity assessment and supports gender-specific health management.
aimThis study examined the associations between body composition, PA, and BMR with BMI, and explored whether gender moderates these relationships in Taiwanese university students.
methodThis cross-sectional study recruited 250 Taiwanese university students (125 males and 125 females, aged 18–24) from various faculties in northern Taiwan using convenience sampling. Body composition, including body fat percentage (BFP), bone mass (BM), muscle mass (MM), and visceral fat level (VFL), along with BMR were measured using dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) under standardized conditions. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Multiple linear regression analyses with interaction terms were utilized to examine associations and the moderating role of gender.
resultsBFP, BM, MM, VFL, and BMR were significantly correlated with BMI. In the regression model, VFL (β = 0.535, p < 0.001), BFP (β = 0.436, p < 0.001), BMR (β = 0.309, p < 0.001), and gender (B = -0.033, p < 0.050) showed significant associations with BMI. Notably, gender significantly moderated the relationships between VFL and BMI (B = 0.014, p < 0.001), and between BMR and BMI (B = 2.29E-04, p = 0.005).
conclusionGender, body fat, and BMR were significantly associated with BMI in young adults. Notably, gender moderated the associations of VFL and BMR with BMI, with stronger effects observed in women than in men. These findings indicate that clinicians should consider gender differences when examining the associations between VFL and BMI as well as between BMR and BMI. Consequently, incorporating BFP, VFL, and BMR alongside traditional measures (BW and BMI) is essential to optimize obesity assessment. Furthermore, this study highlights the need for gender-specific strategies to enhance obesity and metabolic health management in university students.
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