Comparative Analysis of Body Fat Measurement Methods in School Children of Central India

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the prevalence of metabolic disorders, especially in south asian people, a rapid, economical, easy and reliable method of assessment of body fat for mass screening, is the need of the hour. Aim: The aim of the present study was to derive the population and gender specific prediction equations for Body Fat percentage (BF%) in Central Indian children and compare with that, derived from published equation by Shaikh, and obtained by Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA), separately for boys and girls. Materials and Methods: It was a randomised cross sectional school based study. A total of 15 schools were randomly selected from Central India to cater the sample of 2304 children (1005 girls) of age 8-16 years. Anthropometric and Skinfold Thickness (SFT) measurements were done. The BF% was assessed by BIA. Gender specific prediction equations were derived using SFT and Mid Arm Circumference (MAC) measured and regressed on BF%. This prediction equation was compared with BF% values by BIA and with Shaikh prediction equation by Bland-Altman Analysis. Results: Shaikh’s equation underpredicts BF% than BIA with mean bias of 4.59 and Limits of Agreement (LOA) 16.69-7.49. On comparison between BF% in boys by BIA and present prediction equation showed minimum bias of 0.019 with LOA 14.79 and -14.75. In girls Shaikh’s equation overpredicts BF% than BIA with mean bias of -3.09 and LOA 12.02 and - 18.21. The present equations for girls overpredicted BF% than BIA with a bias of -13.23. Conclusion: The BF% measured in children by BIA method and present prediction equations tend to either underpredict or overpredict. New prediction equations are hereby presented using SFT, MAC and age in months, which provides excellent estimates of BF% in boys of central India because of least bias. The BF% (boys) =17.09267+(-0.10016)*A+0.535823*M+0.4438 05*T+0.468107*SS. The BF% (girls)=17.96293+(-0.07976)*A+0.385465*M+0.49787 8*T+0.58131*SS.

Keywords

• bio-electric impedance
• body fat percent
• children
• obesity
• skin fold thickness