Estimation of body composition by bioelectrical, impedance and anthropometric technique in Japanese children

Both skinfold anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are indirect, simple, and non-invasive compared with other techniques to estimate body composition. It is not clear, however, whether the results of both techniques are comparable. In this study, percentage of body fat (%Fat) was determined in 437 school children (229 boys and 208 girls) by skinfold anthropometry and BIA and after 1 year similarly determined in the same subjects. Median %Fat was 18.6 % and 20.7 % in boys and girls by skinfold anthropometry and also 17.6 % and 18.5 % by BIA and after one year 17.9 % and 19.9 %, 16.0 % and 17.0 % respectively. There were significant correlations (p<0.001) for boys and girls between %Fat and the difference of Fat mass between the first and the second year with these techniques. However, there were significant differences between the two methods for boys and girls (p<0.001). Currently available equations for converting impedance-based estimates of total body water to fat mass are not fully developed for use in children, but BIA method is useful in community surveys. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.