Percent of Body Fat by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Healthy Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Obesity is a frequent nutritional disorder in children and adolescent and its prevalence is increasing. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a simple, rapid, non-invasive and reproducible technique. The aim of this study was to measure percent of body fat using bioelectrical impedance in healthy children. METHODS: We measured height, weight and bioelectrical impedance in 1035 children aged 7-18 years(496 males and 539 females). RESULTS: Percent of body fat was decreased in male children, but it was increased during the pubertal period in female. 95th percentiles of percent of body fat by bioelectrical impedance was 32.9% in 7 year olds, 31.6% in 8, 34.7% in 9, 35.1% in 10, 35.8% in 11, 33.1% in 12, 36.1% in 13, 38.2% in 14, 33.3% in 15, 28.3% in 16, 32.8% in 17 and 32.2% in 18 year olds for males. 95th percentiles of percent of body fat by bioelectrical impedance was 25.1% in 7 year olds, 29.6% in 8, 30.5% in 9, 35.6% in 10, 34.5% in 11, 36.5% in 12, 39.1% in 13, 34.1% in 14, 33.7% in 15, 32.8% in 16, 34.5% in 17 and 35.1% in 18 year olds for females. Intraobserver reliability coefficient of bioelectrical impedance analysis was 0.995 and intraobserver reliability of BI(Bioelectrical impedance) analysis was significantly high. CONCLUSION: To measure body fat percentage using bioelectrical impedance analysis in healthy children provides objective data in diagnosing obesity.