Anthropometric predictors of body fat in a large population of 9‐year‐old school‐aged children

Abstract

SummaryObjectiveTo develop and cross‐validate predictive models for percentage body fat (%BF) from anthropometric measurements [including BMI z‐score (zBMI) and calf circumference (CC)] excluding skinfold thickness.MethodsA descriptive study was carried out in 3,084 pre‐pubertal children. Regression models and neural network were developed with %BF measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) as the dependent variables and age, sex and anthropometric measurements as independent predictors.ResultsAll %BF grade predictive models presented a good global accuracy (≥91.3%) for obesity discrimination. Both overfat/obese and obese prediction models presented respectively good sensitivity (78.6% and 71.0%), specificity (98.0% and 99.2%) and reliability for positive or negative test results (≥82% and ≥96%). For boys, the order of parameters, by relative weight in the predictive model, was zBMI, height, waist‐circumference‐to‐height‐ratio (WHtR) squared variable (_Q), age, weight, CC_Q and hip circumference (HC)_Q (adjusted r 2 = 0.847 and RMSE = 2.852); for girls it was zBMI, WHtR_Q, height, age, HC_Q and CC_Q (adjusted r 2 = 0.872 and RMSE = 2.171).Conclusion%BF can be graded and predicted with relative accuracy from anthropometric measurements excluding skinfold thickness. Fitness and cross‐validation results showed that our multivariable regression model performed better in this population than did some previously published models.

A Comparative Study on Fat Pattern between Tribal and Non-tribal Girls of Tripura, North-East India

“…Several studies have authenticated different skinfold equations with alternate methods of estimation and recommended the use of the equations of Slaughter et al, in 1988 [ 19 ] for the evaluation of body fat among pre-pubertal children [ 26 , 27 ]. The present study was carried out to evaluate PBF content in order to evaluate the body composition of rural school-going tribal and non-tribal girls of Tripura using this equation of Slaughter et al, 1988 [ 19 ].…”

“…The present study was carried out to evaluate PBF content in order to evaluate the body composition of rural school-going tribal and non-tribal girls of Tripura using this equation of Slaughter et al, 1988 [ 19 ]. Furthermore, several studies have assessed body composition characteristics in children utilizing these equations for estimation of PBF among children from both non-Indian [ 8 , 27 – 29 ] and Indian ethnic populations [ 6 , 7 , 10 – 12 ]. The results indicated pronounced ethnic differences in adiposity and body composition measures ( e.g ., PBF, FM, FMI, FFMI) between Chakma tribal and Bengali non-tribal girls ( p < 0.01) of Tripura.…”

Impact of body mass index on high blood pressure among obese children in the western region of Saudi Arabia

“…Z-score values of <1.6 for overweight, 1.6 to 2.3 for obesity, and >2.33 for severe obesity were used. 10 , 11 The BMI percentiles and respective Z-scores are presented in Table 1 .…”

Intergenerational changes in limb circumferences in children and adolescents aged 3‐18 from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010

“…The growing trend in the proportion of children and adolescents affected by overweight and obesity is manifested not only in the results of total body weight measurements or indicators of body fat. Children with higher values of these parameters are characterized by larger circumferences of the limbs than their peers with a normal mass (Almeida et al, ; Dasgupta et al, ). This shows the usefulness of these traits as predictors of excessive body weight and body fat (Chaput et al, ; Jaiswal, Bansal & Agarwal, ; Mazıcıoğlu et al, ).For example, arm circumference measurement is characterized by 95% sensitivity and 90% specificity with regard to body fat.…”