Unveiling the Inflammatory Connections: Evaluating Anthropometric and Bio-impedance Indices as Prognostic Indicators of Inflammation through the Dietary Inflammatory Index among Government Doctors in Gujarat, India - A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Obesity and chronic inflammation increase metabolic disease risk.

Objectives: This study investigated associations between inflammation, body composition, and dietary patterns in Indian physicians.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 550 government doctors aged 25-60 years in Gujarat, India, were recruited through multistage random sampling. Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and food frequency questionnaire data were collected. Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores were calculated.

Results: High obesity prevalence was observed, with 48% classified as obese by body fat percentage (BF%) despite normal body mass index (BMI). Significant positive correlations were found between DII scores and BF% (r = 0.57, P < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.27, P < 0.001). DII scores were negatively correlated with skeletal muscle percent (r = -0.45, P < 0.001). Higher body fat raised the odds of elevated DII by 1.121 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.22, P < 0.001), while higher muscle percent lowered DII odds by 0.910 (95% CI 0.85-0.964, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Excess adiposity correlated with higher dietary inflammation among Indian physicians, contrasting with lower inflammation linked to greater muscle mass. Evaluating inflammation alongside body composition provides insights beyond BMI alone.