Body mass index as a measure of adiposity among children and adolescents: A validation study

Pietrobelli, Angelo; Faith, Myles S.; Allison, David B.; Gallagher, Dympna; Chiumello, G; Heymsfield, Steven B.

doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70433-0

Cited by 784 publications

(597 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

522

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…30 In comparisons with measures of body fat obtained by DXA, BMI previously has been reported to be more accurate in fatter than leaner children. 15 The results from the present study showed a 9 BMI also has been shown to be a less accurate predictor of degree of fatness in lean adolescent females 31 where the correlation between BMI and %BF DXA (r ¼ 0.67, P ¼ 0.0001) was very similar to that obtained in the lean adolescents of our study. The strong correlation between fatness estimated from the Slaughter formulas and DXA was present in both the lean and heavy children.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…It requires minimal training, and repeat values can be obtained with good precision. [5][6][7][8][9] Skinfold thickness also is utilized to estimate body fatness, and a number of prediction equations incorporating different skinfold measurements have been developed. [10][11][12][13] The equations devised by Slaughter et al 14 are widely used to estimate percent body fat (%BF), fat body mass (FBM) and lean body mass (LBM), because they require only two anthropometric measures (eg, triceps and subscapular skinfolds) and take into account gender, ethnicity and pubertal status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparison of body fatness measurements by BMI and skinfolds vs dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

OBJECTIVE:To compare estimates of adiposity by dual emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), skinfolds and body mass index (BMI); and to evaluate the relation of these measures to cardiovascular risk in adolescents. DESIGN: In a cohort of adolescents participating in a longitudinal study of insulin resistance, Slaughter formulas were used to estimate adiposity from skinfolds and DXA was used to estimate adiposity as % body fat (%BF) and fat mass (FBM). BMI, blood pressure, lipids and insulin resistance were measured. SUBJECTS: Male and female, 11-17 y old (n ¼ 130). MEASUREMENTS: To compare DXA with two office-based methods of assessing fatness and cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Slaughter estimates were highly correlated with DXA (%BF r ¼ 0.92, P ¼ 0.0001; FBM r ¼ 0.96, P ¼ 0.0001). Correlations were similar in heavy and thin children. BMI was also highly correlated with DXA (%BF r ¼ 0.85, P ¼ 0.0001; FBM r ¼ 0.95, P ¼ 0.0001), and these relations were stronger in heavy than thin children. BMI and the Slaughter formulas were similar to DXA in their relations to cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity by BMI and Slaughter formulas are highly correlated with DXA and similarly related to cardiovascular risk factors. BMI is easy to obtain and is an acceptable method for initial office estimation of body fatness. BMI and skinfolds compare well with DXA in predicting adverse cardiovascular risk profile.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of body fatness measurements by BMI and skinfolds vs dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, its use as a proxy for fatness is more controversial. Whereas several studies have reported strong correlations between BMI and %fat, 24,25 other studies have highlighted the wide variability in %fat present for a given BMI value. 26 Equally, %fat provides a problematic ranking of fatness as discussed previously.…”

Section: Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simplified approach to analysing bio-electrical impedance data in epidemiological surveys

et al. 2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) is widely used to estimate body composition. It is simple, quick and cheap, but less accurate than other methods. It has potential epidemiological value, but has conventionally required validation before application. Aims: To develop a simple method of expressing weight, height and impedance data that avoids the need for populationspecific validation equations in order to facilitate epidemiological application. Methods: Body composition was measured using the four-component model in young adults (43 males, 90 females). Impedance (R) was measured hand-foot and foot-foot. Lean mass and fat mass were adjusted for height to give lean mass index (LMI) and fat mass index (FMI). Based on theoretical principles, we generated the index 1/R, which provides an index of body water adjusted for height. Sex-specific regression models were used to investigate the relationships between (a) 1/R and LMI, and (b) body mass index (BMI) adjusted for 1/R and FMI. The success of this approach was evaluated in relation to the conventional BIA approach, using correlation analysis. Results: 1/R was a highly significant predictor of LMI. BMI adjusted for 1/R was a significant predictor of FMI. Our approach performed as well as the conventional approach for LMI, but not for FMI. Discussion: Direct use of BIA data, rather than their combination with population-specific equations for the prediction of total body water, proved successful at ranking individuals of both sexes in terms of LMI and FMI. The index 1/R may prove particularly valuable in epidemiological studies where ranking of LMI is required.

show abstract

“…Other methods of determining adiposity are more accurate, 2 but have limited applicability to screening or studying large populations. The BMI is well correlated with these more direct fatness measures, 3,4 and weight and height are simple, inexpensive, non-invasive measurements that are recorded routinely in clinical and research settings.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Body mass index in children and adolescents: considerations for population-based applications

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

After several years of experience with body mass index (BMI)-for-age reference standards in the US, the UK, and elsewhere, reflection on 'how things are going' seems timely. In this issue, Reilly 1 offers a summary of the evidence base for the diagnostic accuracy of BMI in youth and his perspective on what is achieved by a definition of overweight and obesity based on high BMI. To complement this, in our short review, we describe the BMI measure itself, the utility of a BMI z-score (s.d. score), their utility in cross-sectional and longitudinal applications in public health/surveillance, clinical and population-based research settings. Body mass index definedBody mass index is a measure of weight adjusted for height. It is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Although BMI is an imperfect tool -it does not distinguish overweight due to excess fat mass from overweight due to excess lean mass -it is the most commonly used measure for assessing obesity in adults. Other methods of determining adiposity are more accurate, 2 but have limited applicability to screening or studying large populations. The BMI is well correlated with these more direct fatness measures, 3,4 and weight and height are simple, inexpensive, non-invasive measurements that are recorded routinely in clinical and research settings.Others have discussed the limitations of clinical screening for high adiposity by comparing weight centiles to height centiles, 5 and the inaccuracy of assessing overweight by observation or 'eye-balling' has been established. 6,7 Therefore, for screening or for epidemiologic research, using a weight/height index to define obesity has advantages that outweigh its limitations. Despite the likelihood of misclassification of the small percentage of individuals whose high BMI is due to lean muscle mass (e.g. some professional athletes), the great majority of individuals with high BMI have excess body fat. Use of body mass index in children and adolescentsThe BMI is used to assess weight status in children and adolescents as well as adults, but whereas in adults the BMI cut points that define obesity and overweight are not linked to age and do not differ for males and females, in growing children BMI varies with age and sex. Thus, a 5-year-old boy with a BMI of 20 kg/m 2 is likely to be overfat, but a 15-yearold boy with a BMI of 20 kg/m 2 is likely to be lean. As a result, for BMI to be meaningful in children it must be compared to a reference-standard that accounts for child age and sex.

show abstract

Body mass index as a measure of adiposity among children and adolescents: A validation study

Cited by 784 publications

References 27 publications

Comparison of body fatness measurements by BMI and skinfolds vs dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

Comparison of body fatness measurements by BMI and skinfolds vs dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

A simplified approach to analysing bio-electrical impedance data in epidemiological surveys

Body mass index in children and adolescents: considerations for population-based applications

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About