Classification of body composition in 11-14 year olds by both body mass index and bioelectrical impedance.
This study investigated the prevalence of obesity in 1671 Caucasian 11-14 year olds using body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage (F%). Age and sex-related criteria for both BMI and F% were applied to characterise the individuals as normal, overweight/overfat or obese. Using BMI, 5.6% males and 6.1% females were identified as obese. F% gave higher values for obesity: 11.9% males and 15.3% females. The prevalence of obesity appears to be in-line with other surveys; however, the outcome does appear to depend on both the measure employed (BMI/F%) and the categories used (overweight/obese). Questions are raised by this survey as to whether BMI is underestimating the number of individuals who are obese, given that obesity is a factor of adiposity, and whether the two measures are identifying the same individuals as obese; 23% were categorised differently between the two measures. These issues have implications for both survey and clinical work.
Potter
Julia A
JA
University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK.
Laws
Christopher J
CJ
Candy
David C
DC
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D017097:Electric Impedance; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology