Abstract
Background: Obesity is becoming endemic in middle east and more and more people are falling in its trap due to the affluent life style of the middle eastern region. It was presumed that a direct correlation between the two if found may help us in outlining the people who will be more prone to obesity related complications. No such data had previously been found to be mentioned in the literature.
Aim: To calculate the plantar arch index and to compare it with the body mass index of the individuals.
Study design: A prospective study
Methods: An experimental and prospective study using medical students as the experimental subjects was designed. The study was conducted at Department of Anatomy at College of Medicine, Northern Border University, KSA. Study was conducted between the January to September 2019.
Results: Subjects' height and weight was recorded. Along it, their static ink-immersed foot imprints were obtained on the A4 size, pre-marked, white print paper. Obtained foot prints were scanned, printed and analyzed using "image J" software. The study parameters were analyzed using SPSS software. The study showed a strong and statistically significant correlation between the indices of foot arch and body mass.
Conclusion: A direct correlation between the foot arch and BMI was found. Information about the two indices may be used to predict the morbidity of several of the diseases currently affecting the affluent life styles, similar to the one prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula.