Does the BMI reflect body fat in obese children and adolescents? A study using the TOBEC method

OBJECTIVE:: Due to the fact that obesity is defined as excess of body fat mass, we tested the hypothesis whether the body mass index (BMI) can be used as a valid measure for the detection of the degree of obesity in individual obese children and adolescents. METHODS:: A total of 204 obese children a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Obesity 2001-02, Vol.25 (2), p.279-285
Main Authors: WIDHALM, K, SCHÖNEGGER, K, HUEMER, C, AUTERITH, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Age groups
Biological and medical sciences
Body composition
Body fat
Body mass index
Cardiovascular disease
Children
Children & youth
Girls
Hypotheses
Independent variables
Intensive care
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Obesity
Overweight
Pediatrics
Regression analysis
Teenagers
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Summary:OBJECTIVE:: Due to the fact that obesity is defined as excess of body fat mass, we tested the hypothesis whether the body mass index (BMI) can be used as a valid measure for the detection of the degree of obesity in individual obese children and adolescents. METHODS:: A total of 204 obese children and adolescents (105 boys, 99 girls) aged 6-17 y, using total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) for fat measurement, were included into this study. A multiple regression analysis was performed with percentage body fat (PBF) as dependent variable and BMI, age and sex as independent variables. First- and second-order interaction terms were also included. Since all interaction terms showed a significant influence on PBF, regression analysis was performed separately for boys and girls, dividing each group into two age subgroups (subjects younger than 10 y, and subjects 10 y or older). RESULTS:: BMI and PBF were observed to be positively correlated (overall: r=0,65; P=0.0001; boys r=0.63 and girls: r=0.68). Through a multiple regression analysis 57% of the variance of PBF could be explained by the independent variables. In boys younger than 10 y 73% and in girls younger than 10 y 63% of the variance of PBF was explained by the BMI. In subjects 10 y or older the association was poor (boys: 27%; girls: 38%). It should be emphasized that there is a wide range in the relationship between PBF and BMI in the obese subjects. CONCLUSION:: From these results we conclude that BMI might be a useful parameter for epidemiological studies: however in the individual pediatric patient, especially from 10 y onwards, it gives only a limited insight to the degree of obesity based on the definition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY: (2001) 25, 279-285
ISSN:0307-0565
1476-5497
DOI:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801511