Body composition estimation using skinfolds in children with and without health conditions affecting growth and body composition.
BACKGROUND
Body composition prediction equations using skinfolds are useful alternatives to advanced techniques, but their utility across diverse paediatric populations is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate published and new prediction equations across diverse samples of children with health conditions affecting growth and body composition.


METHODS
Anthropometric and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition measures were obtained in children with Down syndrome (n = 59), Crohn disease (n = 128), steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (n = 67) and a healthy reference group (n = 835). Published body composition equations were evaluated. New equations were developed for ages 3-21 years using the healthy reference sample and validated in other groups and national survey data.


RESULTS
Fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and percentage body fat (%BF) from published equations were highly correlated with DXA-derived measures (r = 0.71-0.98), but with poor agreement (mean difference = 2.4 kg, -1.9 kg and 6.3% for FM, FFM and %BF). New equations produced similar correlations (r = 0.85-1.0) with improved agreement for the reference group (0.2 kg, 0.4 kg and 0.0% for FM, FFM and %BF, respectively) and in sub-groups.


CONCLUSIONS
New body composition prediction equations show excellent agreement with DXA and improve body composition estimation in healthy children and those with selected conditions affecting growth.
a Seattle Children's Hospital , Seattle , WA , USA.
Danielle
D
Wendel
b Golisano Children's Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester , Rochester , NY , USA.
David
D
Weber
c Stanford University School of Medicine , Palo Alto , CA , USA.
Mary B
MB
Leonard
d Children's National Health System , Washington , DC , USA.
Sheela N
SN
Magge
e The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
Andrea
A
Kelly
e The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
Virginia A
VA
Stallings
e The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
Mary
M
Pipan
f The Lewin Group , Falls Church , VA , USA.
Nicolas
N
Stettler
e The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
Babette S
BS
Zemel
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015143:Philadelphia; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
Crohn’s disease; Down syndrome; Fat mass; fat-free mass; percentage body fat