Precisão diagnóstica do IMC para detetar adiposidade em adultos jovens e fisicamente ativos

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v77.118558

Palavras-chave:

Adiposidade, composição corporal, índice de massa corporal, impedância elétrica, adulto jovem

Resumo

Introdução: A avaliação da composição corporal é especialmente relevante nas poblações físicamente ativas, uma vez que o peso corporal total pode mascarar a adiposidade real. Neste contexto, o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) foi questionado pela sua capacidade limitada de discriminar entre tecido adiposo e massa livre de gordura.

Objectivo: Avaliar a precisão diagnóstica do IMC para detectar a adiposidade elevada em jovens fisicamente activos, utilizando a percentagem de gordura corporal como critério operacional comparado.

Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo de design transversal em 203 varões dos 18 aos 35 anos, recrutados em centros de acondicionamento físico. O desempenho do diagnóstico do IMC (≥ 25 kg/m²) foi comparado com a adiposidade elevada definida pelo critério ACE ≥ 18%, estimada por bioimpedância multifrequência. Se calcula a sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos, exatidão diagnóstica e distribuição de fenotipos de concordância e discordância.

Resultados: A precisão diagnóstica do IMC foi de 63,05%, com uma sensibilidade de 65,48% e uma especificidade de 51,43%. Predominou a discordância por subestimação da adiposidade, com destaque para o fenómeno de adiposidade elevada com IMC < 25 kg/m² (28,6%), face ao fenómeno de IMC ≥ 25 kg/m² sem adiposidade elevada (8,4%). O valor preditivo negativo foi de 23,68%.

Discussão: Os resultados descrevem um padrão de subestimação da adiposidade por parte do IMC em vários jovens fisicamente ativos, questionando a sua utilização exclusiva como ferramenta de tamização neste contexto.

Conclusões: O IMC mostrou uma utilidade limitada para detetar adiposidade elevada nesta população. Recomenda-se complementar a sua utilização com avaliações diretas da composição corporal para reduzir a omissão de perfis com excesso de grama não detetados pelo IMC.

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Publicado

01-04-2026

Edição

Secção

Artigos de caráter científico: trabalhos de pesquisas básicas e/ou aplicadas.

Como Citar

Escobar Vadivieso, G., Alvarado Alvarado, H. M., Palma Cabello, M. E., Vera Cornejo, M. A., Valle Flores, J. A., & Rosado Alvarez, M. M. (2026). Precisão diagnóstica do IMC para detetar adiposidade em adultos jovens e fisicamente ativos. Retos, 77, 568-580. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v77.118558