title: Body composition through adult life: Swedish reference data on body composition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ⩾30 kg/m(2), differs between populations; however, there is a need for data on description on body composition in reference populations of different ages and from different countries. The objective of this study was to pool dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition reference data from population-based Swedish cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four population-based cross-sectional cohort studies including 1424 adult Swedes were divided into five age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-61 and 75 years of age); BMI 24.6±3.9 kg/m(2) were pooled. Body composition was measured with DXA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in BMI from the youngest to the oldest age group was 3.2 and 4.3 kg/m(2) in men and women, respectively (P<0.001, both sexes), and fat mass (FM) was 9.9 and 9.1% higher in the oldest compared with the youngest men and women (P<0.001, both sexes). Fat-free mass (FFM) remained stable up to 60 years of age in men (P=0.83) and was lower at 75 years of age compared with the younger ages. In women, FFM was lower from age 60. From youngest to oldest age groups, height-adjusted FM differed from 4.6 to 7.8 kg/m(2) in men and from 6.8 to 10.8 kg/m(2) in women (P<0.001, both sexes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide reference data on body composition in Swedish populations. BMI and FM were higher among older age groups compared with the younger ones. FFM remained stable up to 60 years of age and was lower first among the 75 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Internal medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Public Health Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissner
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Health and Culture, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samuelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Northern Älvsborg Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fors
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Internal medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lantz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Näslund
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L M S
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Internal medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bosaeus
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001846:Bone Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024510:Muscle Development; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D051598:Whole Body Imaging; D055815:Young Adult