OBJECTIVES: Obesity classification using body mass index (BMI) may miss subjects with elevated body fat percentage (BF%) and related metabolic risk factors. We aimed to evaluate whether BF% calculated by equations could provide more information about metabolic risks, in addition to BMI classification, in a cross-sectional rural Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 2,990 @entity1 and @entity1 aged 18-80 years were included in this study. BF% was calculated using previously validated Chinese-specific equations. @entity209 was defined according to the updated National @entity165 Education Program Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. RESULTS: In total, 33.6% @entity1 and 32.9% @entity1 were overweight/ @entity28 according to BMI classification. Among those within the normal BMI range, 25.4% @entity1 and 54.7% @entity1 were indicated as overweight or @entity28 given their elevated BF% ( @entity1 : BF%   >=    20%; @entity1 : BF%   >=    30%). In both @entity1 and @entity1 , compared with those with normal BMI and BF% ( @entity4361 ), subjects with normal BMI but elevated BF% ( @entity69275 ) were more likely to carry abnormal serum lipid profile and to have higher risks of @entity209 . The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for @entity209 were 5.45 (2.37-9.53, P   <   0.001) and 5.65 (3.36-9.52, P   <   0.001) for @entity1 and @entity1 , respectively. Moreover, the @entity1 with @entity69275 also showed higher blood pressure and serum @entity414 than @entity1 with @entity4361 . CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that high BF% based on equations may indicate adverse metabolic profiles among rural Chinese adults with a normal BMI.

Equation-derived body fat percentage indicates XXXX among normal-weight adults in a rural Chinese population.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'men'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obese'] @entity209 :: ('MESH:D008659', 'Disease') :: ['Metabolic syndrome', 'metabolic syndrome'] @entity69275 :: ('MESH:C031443', 'Chemical') :: ['NBOB'] @entity4361 :: ('MESH:C537354', 'Disease') :: ['NBB'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['Cholesterol'] @entity414 :: ('MESH:D014527', 'Chemical') :: ['uric acid']
@entity209 :: (MESH:D008659,Disease) :: ['metabolic abnormalities']
