Body Fat Percentages by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry Corresponding to Body Mass Index Cutoffs for Overweight and Obesity in Indian Children

Abstract

Background: Indians are suspected to have higher body fat percent at a given body mass index (BMI) than their western counterparts. Objective: To estimate percent body fat in apparently healthy Indian children and adolescents by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and explore linkages of BMI with body fat percent for better health risk assessment. Methods: Age, weight, height of 316 boys and 250 girls (6-17 years) were recorded. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). High adiposity was defined as body fat percent (BF%)  McCarthy's 85th percentile of body fat reference data. Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was carried out for CDC BMI Z score for it's ability to judge excess fatness. Results: High BF% was seen in 38.5% boys and 54.0% girls (p  0.05). Percentage of obese children as defined by the BMI cutoffs of International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (2.1% for boys and 6.9% for girls) was lower than that using Indian (13.7% for boys and 20.9% for girls) and CDC (14.1% for boys and 20.9% for girls) cutoffs. The point closest to one on the ROC curves of CDC BMI Z-scores indicated high adiposity at BMI cutoff of 22 at the age of 17 yr in both the genders. Conclusions: Higher body fat percentage is associated with lower BMI values in Indian children.

Body Composition Percentiles in Urban South Indian Children and Adolescents

“…In Figure B, two children aged 8 years with the same BMI (16 kg/m 2 ) differed markedly in their adiposity (% fat varying from 5% to 35%), suggesting significant variability in lean mass, an issue that is often not given importance in pediatric clinical practice or research. Varying amounts of adiposity for a given BMI have been observed across ethnic groups ,, and South Asians have been referred to as having a “thin‐fat” phenotype evident from birth , with low, lean body mass and high truncal and total body adiposity for a given BMI value . Additionally, children of South Asian origin in the United Kingdom were more sensitive to adverse metabolic effects of obesity than Caucasians .…”

Relationship between body mass index, fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk factors in Indian children and adolescents

“…However, associations between BMI and percentage distribution of body fat (BF) differ across populations . Studies reveal that Asian children have a higher percentage of BF at a lower BMI compared with Caucasians and African–Americans . Children having higher BF percentage are found to be at increased risk of the metabolic syndrome .…”

Carotid arterial stiffness in overweight and obese Indian children

“…The prevalence of childhood obesity in India is high at 11 % -14 % (15,16) . Moreover, body fat percentage in Indians is high (17) , making individuals more vulnerable to aortic stiffness. However, information about carotid artery structure and function in Indian children is not well documented.…”