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[Body composition analysis using bioelectrical and anthropometric parameters]
M Casanova Román1, I Rodríguez Ruiz, S Rico de Cos
1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real, Cátedra de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. mcasanovar@telefonica.net
Insights
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a reliable method for assessing children's body composition. This technique accurately estimates fat-free mass and fat mass, correlating well with traditional anthropometric measurements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Context:
- Growing interest in childhood body composition assessment.
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) offers an accurate and reliable method.
- Need for precise measurement of anthropometric parameters, fat-free body mass (FFM), and fat body mass (FBM).
Purpose:
- To determine anthropometric parameters, FFM, and FBM in children using BIA and anthropometry.
- To establish the relationship between BIA-derived and anthropometric measurements.
- To validate BIA as a tool for pediatric body composition analysis.
Summary:
- 365 healthy children (6.0–14.9 years) underwent measurements of weight, height, arm circumference, skinfolds, and bioelectrical parameters.
- Body density was calculated using skinfolds (Brook's formula); FFM was calculated using BIA (Deurenberg's equation).
- BIA demonstrated excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.94) for estimating fat mass and showed significant correlations with anthropometric variables.
Impact:
- BIA is confirmed as an easy, low-cost, and highly reliable technique for pediatric body composition studies.
- Findings support the use of BIA as a valuable tool for monitoring growth and nutritional status in children.
- The strong correlation with anthropometric variables enhances confidence in BIA's application in clinical and research settings.
Background:
Interest in the study of body composition in childhood is increasing. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an accurate and reliable method.
Objectives:
To determine anthropometric parameters, fat-free body mass and fat body mass using BIA and anthropometry, and to establish their relationship.
Material And Method:
A total of 365 healthy children (188 boys, 177 girls) aged 6.0 to 14.9 years were studied. Weight, height, arm circumference, skinfolds (bicipital, tricipital, subscapular and suprailiac) and bioelectrical parameters were measured. Body density was calculated from the four skinfold measurements using Brook's formula. Bioelectrical impedance was measured with a BIA-101 S (RJL Systems) using a fixed frequency (50 kHz). Fat-free body mass from BIA was calculated using Deurenberg's equation (FFM = 0.82 x height2/resistance).
Results:
We present the mean, standard deviation and 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th and 97th percentiles of anthropometric variables and fat mass and fat-free mass estimated using BIA. Correlations were found between fat-free mass estimated using BIA and anthropometric variables. The reliability of BIA in estimating fat mass was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients, which were excellent (0.948 in boys, and 0.945 in girls).
Conclusions:
BIA is an easy, low-cost, and highly reliable method, making it a useful technique for studying human body composition. This method shows excellent correlation with anthropometric variables.