Abstract
Background: Due to its well-known risk for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases, obesity has become a major public health issue. The sympathetic nervous system can be triggered by body fat resulting in an autonomic impairment. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between indicators of obesity and heart rate variability (HRV) in young adult males.

Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to compare obesity indicators with HRV in young adult males and to examine whether there is any link between obesity and HR variability.

Materials and Methods: This research was directed on 110 healthy college MBBS male students between 18 and 22 years of age. The study population (n = 110) was classified using the body mass index into a control group (BMI = 18.5–22.9 kg/m²) and a study group (BMI = 23.0–29.9 kg/m²). Approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee was obtained before beginning the study. The central obesity assessment was performed using waist circumference and waist to hip ratio. All HRV fluctuations were determined by a 5-min time domain and frequency domain power spectral density analysis using the ML4818 Power Lab 15T software.

Results: Unpaired t-test was used to analyse all parameters of the study (control and study group). The results implied a lower level of parasympathetic and a higher sympathetic activity in the study group when matched against the control group.

Conclusion: Due to an imbalance of the sympathovagal action of the autonomic nervous system, overweight or pre-obese individuals are more likely to suffer from cardiometabolic disorders in the future.

Key words: Obesity Indicators; Heart Rate Variability; Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference; Hip Circumference; Waist to Hip Ratio