Sex-specific lean body mass predictive equations are accurate in the obese paediatric population.
BACKGROUND
The clinical assessment of lean body mass (LBM) is challenging in obese children. A sex-specific predictive equation for LBM derived from anthropometric data was recently validated in children.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to independently validate these predictive equations in the obese paediatric population.


METHODS
Obese subjects aged 4-21 were analysed retrospectively. Predicted LBM (LBMp) was calculated using equations previously developed in children. Measured LBM (LBMm) was derived from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Agreement was expressed as [(LBMm-LBMp)/LBMm] with 95% limits of agreement.


RESULTS
Of 310 enrolled patients, 195 (63%) were females. The mean age was 11.8 ± 3.4 years and mean BMI Z-score was 2.3 ± 0.4. The average difference between LBMm and LBMp was -0.6% (-17.0%, 15.8%). Pearson's correlation revealed a strong linear relationship between LBMm and LBMp (r = 0.97, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study validates the use of these clinically-derived sex-specific LBM predictive equations in the obese paediatric population. Future studies should use these equations to improve the ability to accurately classify LBM in obese children.
a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.
Lanier B
LB
Jackson
a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.
Melissa H
MH
Henshaw
a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.
Janet
J
Carter
a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.
Shahryar M
SM
Chowdhury
D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Lean body mass; obesity; paediatric cardiology