title: Comparison of field methods to estimate fat mass in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reliable field methods to measure fat mass (FM) in children may contribute to primary prevention of childhood obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to compare the accuracy of existing field methods (skinfold thickness (SF), leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), anthropometrics for FM measurement in prepubertal European children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reference FM was measured in 55 French children (30 boys, 25 girls; mean age 8.7 years) using a three-compartment model: body volume (BV) was assessed by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and total body water (TBW) was assessed by deuterium dilution. Agreement between field methods and the reference method was assessed using Bland-Altman analyses. Since field methods for FM measurement are reported to be population-dependent, adjustment to the study population was performed using stepwise multiple linear regressions modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Even after adjustment, field methods exhibited a high correlation (R(2) = 0.71-0.84) but a moderate agreement (+/-3.32 to +/-4.47 kg for fat mass) with the reference model. Methods based on BIA or SF performed slightly better than those based on anthropometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Field methods for FM measurement may be recommended for epidemiological applications, but not for individual follow-up. New field equipment is required to improve accuracy of FM measurement in children and make individual follow-up possible.
authors.affiliation: Nutri-Health, Immeuble Ampère, Rueil-Malmaison Cedex, France. d.paineau@nutri-health.eu
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paineau
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiheb
authors.forename: Isabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valensi
authors.forename: Jean-Eudes
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fontan
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaudelus
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chapalain
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chumlea
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bornet
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boulier
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001823:Body Composition; D049628:Body Size; D001834:Body Water; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003903:Deuterium / Q000032:analysis; D017097:Electric Impedance; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010991:Plethysmography; D012016:Reference Values; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
chemical_list: D003903:Deuterium