Gender differences in total and regional body composition changes as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in Korean children and adolescents.
The objective of this study was to gain normal reference values and to evaluate gender differences in total and regional body composition changes according to age and Tanner stage by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Korean. Four hundred and forty-nine healthy subjects, aged 5-20 yr were enrolled. Until 9 yr of age, males had a higher lean tissue mass and a lower percent body fat (%BF) than the females (12.6% vs 10.0%, p<0.01). These differences were not evident from 10 to 12.9 yr because of early pubertal progression in girls. After 13 yr, a significant sex difference in the body compositions were observed again. In late teens, females have higher %BF than males (25.6% vs 12.3%, p<0.01). However, females have lower android-gynoid percent fat ratio than males at Tanner stages (TSs) 4 and 5 (p<0.01). These differences are because of significant increase of gynoid lean tissue mass after 13 yr in males. The reference data would be useful for future research related to growth and obesity in Korean children and adolescents.
Lim
Jung Sub
JS
Department of Pediatrics, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. limjs@kcch.re.kr
Hwang
Jin Soon
JS
Cheon
Gi Jeong
GJ
Lee
Jun Ah
JA
Kim
Dong Ho
DH
Park
Kyung Duk
KD
Yi
Kyung Hee
KH
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult