Ultrasound measurement of total body fat in obese adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To compare body fat (BF) measurements obtained with a new ultrasound method with those assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in obese adolescents.


METHODS
In 94 adolescents (57 females and 37 males) aged 12-19 years and body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 kg.m(-2), the z-score BMI for age was 6.7 (adolescent girls) and 6.6 (adolescent boys) >97th percentile. BF was measured using DEXA and a method based on ultrasound measurements, body weight, height, abdominal circumference and mid-thigh circumference.


RESULTS
Obesity class I was noted in 39%, II in 28% and III in 33% of the patients. BF by ultrasound correlated closely with BF by DEXA, in both females (r = 0.958) and males (r = 0.981), with standard errors of the estimates (SEE) being 2.9 and 2.5 kg, respectively. The ultrasound method was more accurate than the skinfold technique (n = 24; SEE: 2.2 vs. 6.5 kg, respectively). In 13 adolescents who had marked weight loss after 6 months of treatment, the decrease in DEXA-measured BF correlated closely with the decrease in ultrasound-measured BF (r = 0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Our innovative portable ultrasound technique has advantages in terms of reliability, reproducibility, accuracy and costs for screening and monitoring obese adolescents. A patent application has been submitted. Our method should prove valuable for epidemiological studies.
Pineau
Jean-Claude
JC
UPR CNRS, Dynamique de l'évolution humaine, Paris, France. jean-claude.pineau@evolhum.cnrs.fr
Lalys
Loïc
L
Bocquet
Michel
M
Guihard-Costa
Anne-Marie
AM
Polak
Michel
M
Frelut
Marie-Laure
ML
Peres
Gilbert
G
Dabbas-Tyan
Myriam
M
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult