title: Fat-free mass in relation to stature: ratios of fat-free mass to height in children, adults, and elderly subjects.
abstract: A cross-sectional relationship of fat-free mass to height expressed as a ratio (FFM:ht) is presented for 1103 people aged 6-86 y. Data are presented for 13 specific age groups by gender. By providing information for normal, healthy individuals, these data may be of comparative value for nutritionists and clinicians concerned with body composition of patients with wasting diseases. The data were collected over 20 y in our laboratory by using the same densitometric procedure. A significant increase in FFM:ht occurs during the preadolescent and adolescent years. The adolescent spurt continues for a longer period for boys than for girls, resulting in a significant gender difference beginning at approximately age 16 y and continuing throughout adulthood. A decline in FFM:ht, not statistically significant, appears to occur in men greater than 60 y of age, and a significant decline occurs among women greater than 50 y of age (alpha less than 0.01). Thus, both gender- and age-related trends that have implications for the interpretation of comparative body-composition status are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Noll Laboratory for Human Performance Research, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Barlett
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Puhl
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Buskirk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors