Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Comparison of changes in body composition during puberty development of obese and normal-weight children in China
Jun Ma1, Ning Feng, Shi-Wei Zhang
1Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
Objective:
To compare the changes in body composition, including fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) during puberty development of obese and normal-weight children in China, and to explore the effect of age and gender on body composition.
Methods:
A total of 356 children at the age of 7-15 years were enrolled in this study. Body composition of 10 normal-weight and obese children in each age group was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). FFMI and FMI were calculated according to the following formula: FFMI (kg x m(-2)) = FFM(kg) / height2 (m2) and FMI (kg x m(-2)) = FM (kg) / height2 (m2).
Results:
The fat mass and fat free mass of obese children were significantly higher than those of normal-weight children (P < 0.05). The FMI and FFMI of obese children increased significantly with age and were higher than those of the same sex, gender, and age normal-weight children (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The levels of fat mass, fat free mass, FMI, and FFMI are different in obese and normal-weight children, and gender effects are significant in boys having higher levels of these indicators than in girls. FFMI and FMI can be used as monitoring indexes in weight control of obese children.
Related Concept Videos
Signs of Puberty
Obesity
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
