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Body-composition reference data for simple and reference techniques and a 4-component model: a new UK reference child

Jonathan C K Wells1, Jane E Williams, Sirinuch Chomtho

  • 1Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. jonathan.wells@ucl.ac.uk

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|October 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study provides essential body composition reference data for children aged 4-20. These new charts and standard deviation scores (SDSs) will aid clinicians in assessing pediatric body composition accurately.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Body Composition Analysis
  • Clinical Reference Standards

Background:

  • Routine pediatric body composition assessment is recommended but limited by a lack of appropriate techniques and reference data.
  • Existing measurement techniques are improving, but standardized reference data for interpretation remains a critical need.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish comprehensive body composition reference data for pediatric populations.
  • To support clinical practice and research by providing interpretable measurement standards.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a gold standard 4-component model and various widely used methods to measure body composition in a representative sample of British children (aged 4-20 years).
  • Included anthropometric variables, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, body density, bioelectrical impedance, and total body water measurements.
  • Calculated 4-component fat and fat-free masses, constructing reference charts and standard deviation scores (SDSs) using the lambda-mu-sigma method for fat-free mass index and fat mass index.

Main Results:

  • Developed body composition growth charts and SDSs for ages 5-20 years based on data from 533 individuals.
  • Demonstrated strong correlations between SDSs from different techniques (≥0.68 for adiposity, ≥0.80 for fat-free mass).

Conclusions:

  • The generated reference data are comprehensive and applicable across various pediatric body composition measurement techniques.
  • These data, combined with technological advancements, are expected to significantly improve the clinical assessment and monitoring of body composition in children.
  • Facilitates more robust body composition measurements in pediatric research studies.
Abstract

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