Measurement of Percentage of Body Fat in 411 Children and Adolescents: A Comparison of Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry With a Four-Compartment Model
,
* Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, New York
Body Composition Unit of St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, New York
Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian, Columbia University, New York, New York
Objective. Pediatricians are encountering body composition information more frequently, with percentage of body fat (%BF) measurement receiving particular attention as a result of the obesity epidemic. One confounding issue is that different methods may yield different %BF results in the same person. The objective of this study was to compare dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) with the criterion 4-compartment model (4-CM) for measurement of %BF in a large pediatric cohort and to assist pediatricians in appropriate interpretation of body composition information by recognizing differences between techniques.
Methods. Height, weight, anthropometrics, body density by underwater weighing, total body water by deuterium dilution, and bone mineral content and %BF by DXA (Lunar DPX/DPX-L) were measured in 411 healthy subjects, aged 6 to 18 years. Values for %BF by 4-CM and DXA were compared using regression analysis.
Results. The mean ± standard deviation values for %BF by DXA (22.73% ± 11.23%) and by 4-CM (21.72% ± 9.42%) were different, but there was a strong relationship between the 2 methods (R2 = 0.85). DXA underestimated %BF in subjects with lower %BF and overestimated it in those with higher %BF. The relationship between the 2 methods was not affected by gender, age, ethnicity, pubertal stage, height, weight, or body mass index. The standard error of the estimate was 3.66%.
Conclusion. This analysis demonstrates a predictable relationship between DXA and 4-CM for %BF measurement. Because of its ease of use, consistent relationship with 4-CM, and availability, we propose that DXA has the capacity for clinical application including prediction of metabolic abnormalities associated with excess %BF in pediatrics.
Key Words: body composition • percentage of body fat • obesity • pediatrics • children • adolescents • 4-compartment model • DXA
Abbreviations: DXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry • %BF, percentage of body fat • 4-CM, 4-compartment model • TBW, total body water • Db, body density • M, total body bone mineral content • UWW, underwater weighing • CV, coefficient of variation • BMI, body mass index
Received for publication Oct 30, 2002; Accepted Jul 14, 2003.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. Johnson, A. P Mander, L. R Jones, P. M Emmett, and S. A Jebb Energy-dense, low-fiber, high-fat dietary pattern is associated with increased fatness in childhood Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2008; 87(4): 846 - 854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Pacifico, C. Anania, J. F Osborn, E. Ferrara, E. Schiavo, M. Bonamico, and C. Chiesa Long-term effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on circulating ghrelin and leptin concentrations and body composition in prepubertal children Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2008; 158(3): 323 - 332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Elia, P. Betts, D. M Jackson, and J. Mulligan Fetal programming of body dimensions and percentage body fat measured in prepubertal children with a 4-component model of body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, deuterium dilution, densitometry, and skinfold thicknesses Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2007; 86(3): 618 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Z. Mei, L. M. Grummer-Strawn, J. Wang, J. C. Thornton, D. S. Freedman, R. N. Pierson Jr, W. H. Dietz, and M. Horlick Do Skinfold Measurements Provide Additional Information to Body Mass Index in the Assessment of Body Fatness Among Children and Adolescents? Pediatrics, June 1, 2007; 119(6): e1306 - e1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. S. Berk, A. J. Kovera, C. N. Boozer, F. X. Pi-Sunyer, and J. B. Albu Metabolic Inflexibility in Substrate Use Is Present in African-American But Not Caucasian Healthy, Premenopausal, Nondiabetic Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 4099 - 4106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. L. Minton, K. R. Owen, C. J. Ricketts, N. Crabtree, G. Shaikh, S. Ehtisham, J. R. Porter, C. Carey, D. Hodge, R. Paisey, et al. Syndromic Obesity and Diabetes: Changes in Body Composition with Age and Mutation Analysis of ALMS1 in 12 United Kingdom Kindreds with Alstrom Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 3110 - 3116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E Williams, J. C. Wells, C. M Wilson, D. Haroun, A. Lucas, and M. S Fewtrell Evaluation of Lunar Prodigy dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for assessing body composition in healthy persons and patients by comparison with the criterion 4-component model Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2006; 83(5): 1047 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Ehtisham, N. Crabtree, P. Clark, N. Shaw, and T. Barrett Ethnic Differences in Insulin Resistance and Body Composition in United Kingdom Adolescents J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 3963 - 3969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. P. Whitlock, S. B. Williams, R. Gold, P. R. Smith, and S. A. Shipman Screening and Interventions for Childhood Overweight: A Summary of Evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force Pediatrics, July 1, 2005; 116(1): e125 - e144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Misra, K. K. Miller, C. Almazan, M. Worley, D. B. Herzog, and A. Klibanski Hormonal Determinants of Regional Body Composition in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa and Controls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 2580 - 2587. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
