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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
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.
Abstract:
This study was undertaken to establish an approach for the investigation of age-related changes in indices of body composition during childhood in Japan. It provides current reference values for total body fat mass (TBFM) and lean body mass (LBM) as indices of body composition in an urban population of 3- to 6-year-old Japanese children. Moreover, we assessed the age-specific patterns of body fat distribution [subcutaneous fat mass (SFM) and internal fat mass (IFM)] during childhood. Measurements of body composition by bioelectrical impedance were made in 141 boys and 139 girls, all apparently healthy, aged 3-6 years. Determinations of impedance were made using a four-terminal impedance analyzer (TP-95K; Toyo Physical, Inc., Fukuoka, Japan). LBM was calculated using the equation of Kushner et al. (1992) and Goran et al. (1993). SFM was calculated using a modification of the equation derived by Skerjl et al. (1953). IFM was calculated as the difference between TBFM and SFM. From ages 3 through 6 years, the mean LBM increased with age in boys and girls, and showed significant age differences. Between the ages of 3 and 6, the average increment in LBM was 5.1 kg in boys and 4.4 kg in girls. On average, boys gained 0.5 kg of TBFM each year, whereas girls gained 0.4 kg of TBFM each year. Furthermore, both groups gained 0.3 kg of SFM each year. Percentage body fat decreased in both genders until approximately the age of 5, and increased again slightly at the age of 6. The age-specific pattern of fat accumulation during childhood was characterized by an almost linear increase in SFM in girls, but a transient decrease in IFM in boys. We conclude that further research is required, including longitudinal assessment of body composition variables, in order to unravel the dynamics of body composition change in Japanese children.