Phase angle (PhA) is a ratio of reactance and resistance {arctangent (reactance (Xc)/resistance (R)) × (180°/π)}, which can be obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). PhA indicates cellular health and integrity, and it is also considered as a prognostic tool in medical disorders and an indicator of nutritional status (especially of muscle quality) in patients with obesity. However, PhA has limited usefulness in clinical practice because of a lackness of reference values for Chinese overweight and obese populations. The main aim of this study was to show PhA reference data in different age and BMI groups by sex. In addition, we also study the association of age, sex, and BMI on PhA.
A total of 1729 overweight and obese participants were included in this study. PhA and body composition were measured using segmental multifrequency BIA. Differences in mean values for variables were tested by one-way analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the associations of PhA with age, sex and BMI.
Multiple regression analysis showed that age, sex and BMI were significant (
PhA differed according to age, sex and BMI. Reference data in this study can be taken into consideration when deriving the reference values for overweight and obese Chinese populations.