Abstract
BackgroundThere is no gold standard in body composition measurement in pediatric patients with obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if there are any differences between two bioelectrical impedance analysis techniques performed in children and adolescents with obesity.MethodsData were collected at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Vienna from September 2015 to May 2017. Body composition measurement was performed with TANITA scale and BIA-BIACORPUS.ResultsIn total, 38 children and adolescents (age: 10–18 years, BMI: 25–54 kg/m2) were included. Boys had significantly increased fat free mass (TANITA p = 0.019, BIA p = 0.003), total body water (TANITA p = 0.020, BIA p = 0.005), and basal metabolic rate (TANITA p = 0.002, BIA p = 0.029). Girls had significantly increased body fat percentage with BIA (BIA p = 0.001). No significant gender differences of core abdominal area have been determined. TANITA overestimated body fat percentage (p < 0.001), fat mass (p = 0.002), and basal metabolic rate (p < 0.001) compared to BIA. TANITA underestimated fat free mass (p = 0.002) in comparison to BIA. The Bland Altman plot demonstrated a low agreement between the body composition methods.ConclusionsLow agreement between TANITA scale and BIA-BIACORPUS has been observed. Body composition measurement should always be performed by the same devices to obtain comparable results. At clinical routine due to its feasibility, safety, and efficiency, bioelectrical impedance analysis is appropriate for obese pediatric patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials NCT02545764. Registered 10 September 2015.
Highlights
There is no gold standard in body composition measurement in pediatric patients with obesity
Female patients had more body fat percentage, which was significantly increased with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (p = 0.001)
The upper and lower margin of body fat percentage was more than ±5%, and basal metabolic rate was more than ±250 kcal
Summary
There is no gold standard in body composition measurement in pediatric patients with obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate if there are any differences between two bioelectrical impedance analysis techniques performed in children and adolescents with obesity. Worldwide reports reveal that obesity has tripled in the last 40 years [1]. In 2016, 41 million children younger than 5 years and 340 million children and adolescents aged between five to nineteen years, were overweight or obese [1]. Overweight and obesity represent already a health issue in childhood. Obesity in early childhood is associated with an increased risk of obesity in adulthood [1]. Prevention is already needed at a young age. Kreissl et al BMC Pediatrics (2019) 19:84
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