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Hand grip strength in young adults: association with obesity-related anthropometric variables

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Abstract

Aim

The aims of this study were to evaluate hand grip strength in young adults, to examine its relationship with anthropometric values, and to determine which values are predictive.

Subject and methods

This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with 913 healthy young adults aged 18–30 years. A questionnaire form was administered in face-to-face interviews, and anthropometric measurements including height, body weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), neck circumference (NC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), and hand grip strength (kg) were performed for each participant.

Results

Hand grip strength was significantly higher for men than for women (p < 0.001), and was also higher in obese and overweight people compared to underweight participants (p < 0.001). Hand grip strength was correlated with weight, height, body mass index, MAC, TSF, WC, and NC (p < 0.001). The predictive ability of anthropometric measurements in estimating hand grip strength was thus demonstrated in a large population of healthy young adults. Significant regression was found, with an R2 value of 0.556. Hand grip strength increased by 0.282 kg for each centimeter of height and by 0.135 kg for each centimeter of MAC. The hand grip strength of male participants was 0.424 kg greater than that of females. Height, MAC, TSF, and sex were significant predictors of hand grip strength.

Conclusion

According to our results, variability in hand grip strength among healthy subjects can be explained by height, MAC, TSF, WC, HC, age, and sex. The estimation of hand grip strength could be established based on these demographic and anthropometric variables.

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Funding

This research was funded by Ankara University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, and its project number is 2480783.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Lokman Hekim University, Söğütözü Mahallesi, 2179. Sk. No:6, Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey

    Gökcen Doğan

  2. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ankara University, Fatih Cad. No:197 Keçiören, Ankara, Turkey

    Nida Tokaç Er & Nurcan Yabanci Ayhan

  3. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey University, İbrahim Öktem Cd, 70100, Karaman, Turkey

    Meryem Elif Öztürk

  4. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gaziantep University, Osmangazi, Üniversite Blv., 27410, Gaziantep, Şehitkamil, Turkey

    Çağdaş Salih Meriç

  5. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gümüşhane University, Bağlarbaşı Mah. Merkez, Gümüşhane, Turkey

    Hacı Ömer Yilmaz

Authors
  1. Gökcen Doğan
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  2. Nida Tokaç Er
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  3. Meryem Elif Öztürk
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  4. Çağdaş Salih Meriç
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  5. Hacı Ömer Yilmaz
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  6. Nurcan Yabanci Ayhan
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Contributions

G. DOĞAN, N. TOKAÇ ER and N. YABANCI AYHAN contributed to the conception and design of the research. M. E. ÖZTÜRK, Ç. S. MERİÇ and H. Ö. YILMAZ contributed to interpretation. G. DOĞAN drafted the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript, gave the final approval and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work ensuring integrity and accuracy.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gökcen Doğan.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving research study participants were approved by the Faculty of Medicine/Clinical Research Ethics Committee (approval number: 06-258-16). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects/patients.

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Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects/patients.

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Doğan, G., Tokaç Er, N., Öztürk, M.E. et al. Hand grip strength in young adults: association with obesity-related anthropometric variables. J Public Health (Berl.) (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02060-7

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