Abstract
BackgroundChildhood obesity has become a major public health problem in China. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age and sex on the relationship between fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) in Chinese children using body composition chart analysis, and to compare the changing pattern with Caucasian and Japanese counterparts.MethodsA total of 1458 children (790 boys and 668 girls) between 5 and 18 years of age were studied to determine a body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The relationship of FFM and FM, FFMI and FMI were delineated by body composition charts.ResultsDifferent changing patterns in body composition were observed during 5-11y (younger age group), and 12-18y (older age group), with non-significant sex difference with FM and FMI for the younger age group and significant sex and age differences for the older age group. For the younger age group, simultaneous increase of FFM and FM was found in both genders. However, for the older age group, the increase in weight and BMI with age is largely due to the increment of FFM and FFMI in boys, and of FM and FMI in girls. In addition, different changing patterns in body composition exist between Chinese children and their Caucasian and Japanese counterparts, largely due to the higher fat mass component in Chinese subjects.ConclusionsOur results indicate that age- and gender-related changing patterns of body composition in Chinese children may differ at different growth stage, and differ with those in Caucasian and Japanese children at the same age period. Such changing patterns should be considered when designing the intervention proposal for childhood obesity in China.
Highlights
Childhood obesity has become a major public health problem in China
body mass index (BMI) is not able to distinguish whether it is an increase in fat mass (FM) or a decrease in fat-free mass (FFM) that causes the increase in the body mass of a child, but it can be partitioned into the fat and lean components of fat mass index (FMI) (FM index=FM/height2) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) (FFM index=FFM/ height2)
Ethical permission was Statistical analysis Based on the age-related changing patterns in both body composition charts, analysis of variance was used to investigate the effect of sex and age on FFM and FM, as well as FFMI and FMI for two growth stages (5-11y, and 12-18y)
Summary
Childhood obesity has become a major public health problem in China. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age and sex on the relationship between fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) in Chinese children using body composition chart analysis, and to compare the changing pattern with Caucasian and Japanese counterparts. BMI is not able to distinguish whether it is an increase in FM or a decrease in FFM that causes the increase in the body mass of a child, but it can be partitioned into the fat and lean components of FMI (FM index=FM/height2) and FFMI (FFM index=FFM/ height). It is desirable to investigate the relationship of both compartments (FM and FFM, FMI and FFMI) when analyzing the body composition data
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