A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INFLUENCE OF BODY MASS INDEX ON BREATH HOLDING TIME IN YOUNG ADULTS

Body Mass Index assessment, also known as the Quetelet’s index is commonly used as a practical means to assess body fatness. Breath Holding Time (BHT) is a simple method to assess lung function.  Relationship of anthropometrical parameters & sex to Breath Holding Time is not reported in any studies done so far.So a cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy young adults of both sexes to assess BHT as an index of central ventilatory response. On sexwise comparison, there was a statistically significant decrease of Height, Weight with insignificant differences in BMI & resting RR in females. There was highly significant increase in BHT of both sexes after the deep breathing session(deep inspiration & expiration). There is proportionate & significant decrease in BHT of females compared to males as observed in both recordings of breathing session.