Cadernos de Saúde Pública (Oct 2014)

Body composition assessment using DXA in six-year-old children: the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

  • Roberta V. Zanini,
  • Iná S. Santos,
  • Denise P. Gigante,
  • Alicia Matijasevich,
  • Fernando C. Barros,
  • Aluísio J. D. Barros

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00153313
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 10
pp. 2123 – 2133

Abstract

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The aim of this study was to describe fat (FM) and lean body mass (LBM) in six-year-old children from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort, stratified by gender. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry was used to measure FM and LBM, FM and LBM indexes, and percentage (%) of FM and LBM. Mean measures of adiposity were higher among girls (6.3kg, 4.2kg/m2 and 23.4% vs. 5kg, 3.3kg/m2 and 18%) while LBM measures were higher among boys (19.3kg, 13kg/m2 and 78.5% vs. 17.7kg, 12.2kg/m2 and 73.2%). In both boys and girls mean measures of adiposity increased with socioeconomic status and maternal education. Mean measures of adiposity were higher among white-skinned children while %LBM was higher among black-skinned children. Preterm compared to full-term children showed lower mean measures of adiposity and LBM. Female sex, white skin color and higher socioeconomic conditions are associated with higher adiposity in childhood.

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