Agreement between specific measures of adiposity and associations with high blood pressure in black South African women.

OBJECTIVES: To derive percentage body fat (%BF) cut-points according to body mass index (BMI) categories for adult black South African women and to investigate the agreement between adiposity classifications according to WHO BMI and %BF cut-points. The secondary aim was to determine the association between these different adiposity measures and high blood pressure. METHODS: Black women aged 29-65 years (n = 435) from Ikageng, South Africa, were included in this cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data were collected (weight, height and BMI). %BF using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and blood pressure were measured. RESULTS: There was significant agreement between three %BF categories: low/normal (<35.8% age 29-49 years; or <38% age 50-65 years), overweight range (35.8-40.7% age 29-49 years; or 38-42.1% age 50-65 years) and obese (≥40.7% age 29-49 years; or ≥42.1% age 50-65 years) and three BMI categories: low/normal (<25 kg/m2 ), overweight range (25-29.9 kg/m2 ) and obese (≥30kg/m2 ); (κ = 0.62, P < .0001). Despite statistically significant agreement between groups, more than half of overweight individuals were misclassified as having either a normal (30.2%) or obese %BF (25.5%). %BF misclassification was low in the low/normal and obese BMI ranges. After adjustment for confounders, obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 ), as well as high %BF were significantly associated with high blood pressure (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.09-2.81 versus OR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.15-3.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: Despite significant agreement between BMI and %BF categories, considerable misclassification occurred in the overweight range. Participants with excessive %BF had a greater odds of high blood pressure than those in the highest BMI category.

Does the early adopter catch the worm or choke on it? A reflective journey of the challenges of technology adoption in a health sciences education institution.

BACKGROUND: Early adoption of technology is a struggle well known to early adopters and now to me. Since the demand to use and implement technology in health professions' education has increased, I have been led to adopt various technologies, leading to many headaches. METHODS: This paper addresses my experiences in developing and implementing technology in health science classrooms in a setting not adequately equipped to do so. RESULTS: After reflecting on my experiences, I conclude that it is crucial that systems help innovators and early adopters as they work to develop and implement teaching and learning technology. Technical decisions should address the needs of the higher education educator. DISCUSSION: In addition, once an institution chooses a specific technological approach, such as using e-guides, there should be resources in place to support the forerunners of these initiatives.