Validity and accuracy of body fat prediction equations using anthropometric measurements in children 7 - 10 years old

• Main Authors: Ravi Marinho dos Santos (Author), Isabele Góes Nobre (Author), Gabriela Carvalho Jurema Santos (Author), Tafnes Laís Pereira Santos de Almeida Oliveira (Author), Isabella da Costa Ribeiro (Author), Marcos André Moura dos Santos (Author), Luciano Pirola (Author), Carol Góis Leandro (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1590/1980-0037.2022v24e86719; 1415-8426; 1980-0037
• Keywords: Anthropometry; Body composition; Child; Sports; GV557-1198.995; Medicine (General); R5-920
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, Vol 24, Iss 1 (2023)

Children with a deficit of growth because of perinatal malnutrition present specificities in the percentage of body fat (%BF) that could not be detected by previous fat mass-based equations. This study developed and validated predictive equations of the %BF derived from anthropometric variables in children aged 7 to 10 living in Northeast Brazil, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a reference. Body composition data from 58 children were utilized. DXA was used as a reference. A stepwise (forward) multiple regression statistical model was used to develop the new equations. The Bland-Altman analysis (CI: 95%), paired Student's t-test, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to validate and compare the developed equations. Two new equations were developed for either gender: boys: %BF: 13.642 + (1.527*BMI) + (-0.345*Height) + (0.875*Triceps) + (0.290* Waist Circumference) and girls: %BF: -13.445 + (2.061*Tight). The Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement, with limits ranging from -1.33 to 1.24% for boys and -3.35 to 4.08% for girls. The paired Student's t-test showed no difference between %BF-DXA and the two new equations (p> 0.05), and the ICC was 0.948 and 0.915, respectively. DXA-based anthropometric equations provide an accurate and noninvasive method to measure changes in the %BF in children.