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Bioelectrical impedance, anthropometry and body composition in stunted and non-stunted children
S P Walker1, S Grantham-McGregor, C Powell
1Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Insights
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) reveals differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted Jamaican children. BIA offers insights beyond traditional anthropometry for assessing nutritional status in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Nutrition
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Childhood stunting is a significant public health issue in developing countries.
- Assessing body composition in young children is crucial for understanding nutritional status.
- Traditional anthropometric measurements may not fully capture body composition differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in young children (9-24 months).
- To determine the relationship between BIA-derived impedance and anthropometric measurements in stunted and non-stunted children.
- To explore differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted children using BIA.
Main Methods:
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometric measurements were conducted on 129 stunted and 32 non-stunted children in Jamaica.
- Reliability of BIA in this age group was assessed.
- Relationships between impedance parameters and anthropometric indices (BMI, skinfolds, etc.) were analyzed.
- Total body water (TBW) was estimated using a specific equation for Jamaican children.
Main Results:
- Stunted children exhibited significantly lower BMI and triceps skinfolds compared to non-stunted children.
- Significantly higher resistance was observed in stunted children.
- Nutritional group significantly influenced resistance variance, even after controlling for anthropometric variables, age, and sex.
- Estimated TBW as a percentage of body weight was similar between groups, contrasting with anthropometric findings.
Conclusions:
- BIA can detect body composition differences in young children that may not be apparent through standard anthropometry alone.
- The findings suggest potential differences in body composition and/or shape between stunted and non-stunted children.
- Further research is needed to reconcile BIA and anthropometric data for accurate nutritional assessment in stunted children.
Abstract:
Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and anthropometric measurements were taken of 129 stunted and 32 non-stunted children aged 9-24 months in Kingston, Jamaica. The reliability of BIA in such young children was examined and the relationships between impedance and anthropometry were determined. The stunted children had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and smaller triceps skinfolds than the non-stunted children, suggesting differences in body composition between the groups. Resistance was significantly higher in the stunted children than the non-stunted children and nutritional group (stunted or non-stunted) contributed significantly to the variance in resistance after controlling for length, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, age and sex. This suggests that there were differences in body composition and/or body shape between the groups beyond that measured by the anthropometric indices used. Total body water (TBW) was estimated using an equation for Jamaican children of comparable age. As a percentage of body weight the TBW estimates were the same for the two groups, a finding which is inconsistent with the anthropometric data.