Bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry in Ecuadorian children of African ancestry

In the city of Esmeraldas, north-western coast of Ecuador, height, weight, and body composition of 600 male and female schoolchildren of African ances try in the age groups four, five and six years were investigated. All the c hildren were apparently healthy without any obvious or reported pathologies and in accordance with data from personal information were assigned to one of two socio-economic classes. The greater values for weight and height sh own by children in the higher socio-economic group than in the Less well of f are compatible with those for more fat and water as obtained by the BIA i nvestigation. Additional information on nutritional, muscular and general h ealth stat us was obtained from positioning and degree of dispersion of the 'Biagram' ellipses. It seems that both the anthropometric and the bioelectrical impedance metho ds provide useful information on the differences due to belonging to one or other of the socioeconomic groups.