The use of bioelectrical impedance to detect excess visceral and subcutaneous fat.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze bioelectrical impedance performance in detecting the presence of excess visceral fat and overweight/obesity in young Brazilians and how its values are related with them.


METHODS
Study sample consisted of 811 adolescents of both genders (11 to 17 years of age). Nutritional status was determined based on triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), relative body fat (bioelectrical impedance), and excess visceral fat as determined by waist circumference. Statistical analysis was performed using means, standard deviations, linear correlation, Student's t test, and ROC curve.


RESULTS
Bioelectrical impedance achieved good performance in identifying excess visceral fat associated with overweight/obesity in both genders, and was found to be more specific (male 92.4% and female 93.8%) than sensitive (male 86.1% and female 71.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the use of bioelectrical impedance to identify the presence of excess visceral and subcutaneous fat in adolescents.
Fernandes
Rômulo A
RA
Centro de Educação Física e Esporte (CEFE-UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil. romulo_ef@yahoo.com.br
Rosa
Clara S C
CS
Buonani
Camila
C
Oliveira
Arli R de
AR
Freitas Júnior
Ismael F
IF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio