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Age-related changes in body composition of 3- to 6-year-old Japanese children

K Teramoto1, K Otoki, S Komiya

  • 1Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University. keisuke@ihs.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Applied Human Science : Journal of Physiological Anthropology
|December 10, 1999
PubMed

Insights

This study provides reference values for body composition in Japanese children aged 3-6, detailing changes in lean body mass (LBM) and total body fat mass (TBFM). Findings reveal distinct age-specific fat accumulation patterns in boys and girls.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Human Physiology
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Understanding age-related changes in body composition is crucial for pediatric health assessment.
  • Establishing normative data for body composition in specific populations, like Japanese children, is essential for accurate growth monitoring.
  • Previous research has indicated variations in body fat distribution during childhood, necessitating population-specific investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish reference values for total body fat mass (TBFM) and lean body mass (LBM) in 3- to 6-year-old Japanese children.
  • To investigate age-specific patterns of subcutaneous fat mass (SFM) and internal fat mass (IFM) distribution during early childhood.
  • To develop an approach for studying age-related body composition changes in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure body composition in 141 boys and 139 girls aged 3-6 years.
  • Standardized equations were applied to calculate LBM, SFM, and IFM from impedance measurements.
  • Cross-sectional data were analyzed to assess age-specific trends in body composition indices.

Main Results:

  • Mean LBM increased significantly with age in both genders, with average increments of 5.1 kg in boys and 4.4 kg in girls between ages 3 and 6.
  • Boys gained an average of 0.5 kg TBFM annually, while girls gained 0.4 kg; both genders gained 0.3 kg SFM annually.
  • Percentage body fat initially decreased until age 5, then slightly increased at age 6, with SFM showing a linear increase in girls and IFM a transient decrease in boys.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides current reference values for body composition in young Japanese children.
  • Distinct age-specific patterns of fat accumulation, particularly in SFM and IFM, were observed between genders.
  • Longitudinal studies are recommended to further elucidate the dynamics of body composition changes in Japanese children.

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