title: Norm references of fat-free mass index and fat mass index and subtypes of obesity based on the combined FFMI-%BF indices in the Korean adults aged 18-89 yr.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish reference values for fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index (FMI), and percent body fat (%BF) in a large Korean adult group of apparently healthy subjects, and to analyze the characteristics of body composition indices among the subtypes of obesity in Korean adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1275 community-dwelling healthy Koreans, 504 men and 771 women, aged 18-89 years. Body composition parameters were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. FFMI (FFM/height squared) and FMI (FM/height squared) were calculated, and then three subtypes of obesity were divided by FFMI; underlean (or sarcopenic), proportional, and heavy (or muscular) obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reference values (5th-95th percentile) of the reference group (18-59 yr) for the FFMI was 16.3-22.3 kg/m(2) in men and 13.3-17.8 kg/m(2) in women. The %BF increased with age because of the reduction of FFM. Due to lower FFMI in the oldest men, they had the lowest BMI while FMI and BMI of Korean women increased with age like Caucasian women. The %BF among three subtypes of obesity was similar while FMI and BMI were increased as FFMI increased. The prevalence of underlean obesity in men was more than double in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential to analyze FFMI as well as %BF because %BF alone cannot explain the effects of ageing on FFM and the characteristics of subtypes of obesity. This is the first study to present DXA-determined age- and sex-specific percentiles for body composition indices in Korean adults. These reference values may be useful for clinical evaluation of body composition and nutritional status for Korean adults.
authors: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, 143-5 Yongdu-dong, Chung-Ku, Taejeon 301-832, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chul-Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sochung
authors: S
authors: Chung
authors: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical education, Korea National Sport University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyeoijin
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical education, Korea National Sport University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Hyeon
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: U-Health Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electronics and Information, Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seung-Hun
authors: SH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, 143-5 Yongdu-dong, Chung-Ku, Taejeon 301-832, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jun Won
authors: JW
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Gwangju Health College University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sang-Wan
authors: SW
authors: Han
authors: Department of Exercise Prescription, Dongshin University, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jung-Chul
authors: JC
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Radiology, Inje University Paik Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Hyung
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Inje University Paik Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yong Bum
authors: YB
authors: Park
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hee-Seung
authors: HS
authors: Nam
authors: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Eulji University School of Medicine, 143-5 Yongdu-dong, Chung-Ku, Taejeon 301-832, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:ckim@eulji.ac.kr.
authors: Chan
authors: C
authors: Kim