Body composition measurements in paediatrics - a review. Part 2

With the increasing recognition of overweight, obesity, and metabolic diseases in paediatrics, there is a need to apply more precise diag-nostic methods to individualise the procedures and improve their monitoring. Advanced methods of evaluating body composition are a valuable addition to body weighing because they provide more precise data than screening methods such as anthropometry and bioe-lectrical impedance analysis (BIA). However, they require expensive equipment and highly trained staff. The availability of methods used in paediatrics is increasing. The article discusses the technical assumptions and summarises data from literature concerning the accuracy of chosen methods. From those, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is distinguished as being widely accepted. Not only does it serve to evaluate bone density, but also to assess fat mass, making it a crucial element of multicomponent models (3C, 4C), which is often used separately as a reference method for other techniques. Methods based on body volume measurement are also of great importance. Traditionally they include hydrodensitometry (HW), which is being displaced by air displacement plethysmography (ADP), which is more acceptable among young patients. Numerous publications indicate that ADP may become a valuable alternative for widely used DXA. Isotope dilution methods are less popular in paediatrics, due to their cost and limited credibility, but are more commonly used among adults. The last group comprises imaging methods rarely used in the discussed indication. With the knowledge of available techniques and current clinical situation one can, for the patient's benefit, decide between screening and advanced techniques of body composition measurement.