Predicting body composition from anthropometry in pre-adolescent children

The objectives of this paper were to: a) evaluate the accuracy and precisio n of previously published pediatric body composition prediction equations a nd b) develop additional prediction equation!; from a large, heterogeneous group of Caucasian (n= 133) and African-American (n= 69) children. The comb ined cohort of 202 children included a wide range of ages (4.0 - 10.9 y), w eights (14.0 - 70.8 kg), fat mass (FM: 1.2 - 28.5 kg) and percent body fat (% body fat: 6.2-49.6%), Skinfold measurements were obtained using a Lange caliper and body fat was measured with a Lunar DPX-L densitometer. The prev iously published equations of Slaughter et al and Goran tal did not accurat ely predict body fat. The entire cohort was randomly divided into two sub-g roups for purposes of deriving and cross-validating a new prediction equati on. In stepwise regression analysis in the development group, (n=135), weig ht, triceps skinfold, gender, ethnicity and abdominal skinfold estimated FM measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) with a model R-2 Of 0. 95, The new prediction equation was cross-validated in the control I group (n = 67) and each ethnic and gender subgroup. We conclude that a) the equat ions of Slaughter et al and Goran et al did not accurately predict FM in a heterogeneous group of children and b) a new anthropometric prediction equa tion is proposed that may provide accurate estimates of FM in both Caucasia n and African-American children aged 4-10y with a wide range of FM and body composition.