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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone mineral density and body composition in normal weight, overweight and obese children
Samantha López-Peralta1, Enrique Romero-Velarde2,3, Edgar M Vásquez-Garibay1
1Departamento de Reproducción Humana Crecimiento Y Desarrollo Infantil, Instituto de Nutrición Humana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Insights
Childhood obesity may impact bone health, but higher bone mineral density (BMD) in obese children is linked to greater lean mass, not excess fat. Lean mass is a key predictor of BMD, underscoring the importance of physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Excess body fat in children may negatively affect bone mass acquisition and skeletal health.
- Understanding the relationship between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for pediatric skeletal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body composition and BMD in normal weight, overweight, and obese children.
- To determine if excess body fat or lean mass is a primary determinant of BMD in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 49 children aged 6-11 years, categorized by Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) used to assess BMD and body composition (lean mass, fat mass).
- Statistical analyses included correlation coefficients and multivariate models to identify predictors of BMD.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited higher BMD compared to normal weight children, primarily attributed to greater lean mass.
- A positive correlation was observed between BMD and total/trunk lean mass across all weight categories (p < 0.001).
- In obese children, higher fat mass inversely correlated with lumbar spine BMD (p < 0.05), and lean mass was the sole significant predictor of BMD variability in multivariate models.
Conclusions:
- Increased BMD in obese children is explained by higher lean mass, not excess adiposity.
- Higher fat mass in obese children is associated with reduced lumbar spine BMD.
- Lean mass is a critical determinant of BMD, highlighting the importance of muscle strengthening through physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices for pediatric bone health.
Background:
There is a possibility that excess body fat affects bone mass gain and may compromise skeletal health in obese children. The purpose of the study was to identify the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in normal weight, overweight and obese children.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study of 6- to 11-year-old children who attended the hospital's outpatient clinic. They were apparently healthy and had no history of prematurity, low birth weight, or chronic diseases. Body mass index (BMI) was used to identify subjects as normal weight, overweight or obese. BMD and body composition were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD values (total and lumbar spine) were compared between normal weight, overweight and obese children. Correlation coefficients were calculated, and multivariate models were performed.
Results:
Forty-nine children were included: 16 with normal weight, 15 that were overweight and 18 with obesity; the mean age was 8.4 ± 1.7 years. All the participants had a normal BMD (> - 2 SD). BMD was higher in obese children and had a positive correlation with total and trunk lean mass in the three study groups (p < 0.001). In obese children, an inverse correlation of lumbar spine BMD (Z score) with total and trunk fat mass (p < 0.05) was identified. In the multivariate models (with the whole group), the total lean mass was the only significant variable that explained BMD variability.
Conclusions:
BMD in obese children was higher than that in normal weight children, which is explained by their greater lean mass and not by excess body fat. In obese children, a higher fat mass was related to a lower lumbar spine BMD. Lean mass had a direct correlation with BMD in the three study groups and was the most important predictor of BMD, reflecting the importance of strengthening the muscular system through performing physical activity and practicing a healthy lifestyle.
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