RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOELECTRIC IMPEDANCE, BODY MUSCULARITY AND BODYADIPOSITY IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

We examined the relationships between bioelectric impedance (BI), body adiposity and body muscularity in a sample of 1540 Italian children a ged from 6 to 12 years. BI and the impedance index (height(2)/BI) were found to increase with increasing levels of body adiposity (as determ ined by arm fat area and by the sum of four skinfolds according to Dur nin & Womerseley) and body muscularity (as determined by arm muscle ar ea and circumference), respectively. Based on the comparison with body mass index, relative weight and triceps skinfold, BI was shown to be a better index of body adiposity than height(2)/BI. However, the imped ance index was a better index of body muscularity than BI. We conclude that BI and height(2)/BI have the potential to be employed as indexes of adiposity and muscularity, respectively, in childhood. For this re ason, we have provided percentile values for BI and height(2)/BI which may be used in italian children from 6 to 12 years of age.