BODY-COMPOSITION IN CHINESE SUBJECTS - RELATIONSHIP WITH AGE AND DISEASE

Body composition measurement by dual energy absorptiometry was carried out in 160 men (age 45-87 years) and 407 women (age 20-88 years) cons isting of volunteers and 25 men and 14 women with chronic obstructive airways disease (GOAD) not receiving steroids from a hospital respirat ory clinic. The objectives of this study were to provide normal refere nce values for adult Chinese including the elderly; to examine the eff ect of age and GOAD on body composition; and to compare the use of bod y mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity or malnutrition compared wi th body composition measurements. Values for body composition were dif ferent when compared with studies in the Caucasian population. In both sexes, height and lean mass decreased in a linear fashion with aging. In men, total body water increased till the 55-65 age group and then decreased. In women, total body water and bone mineral content also de creased with aging in a linear fashion. Changes in weight, BMI, fat ma ss and percentage fat with aging were also present in women and follow ed a quadratic trend. BMI was not a sensitive index of obesity or unde rnutrition, having approximately only 50-60% sensitivity in detecting high percentage fat or low standardised lean mass values. GOAD was ass ociated with low BMI only. Body composition measurements changes with aging, and should be used instead of BMI as a better indication of obe sity or undernutrition. Reference values derived from the appropriate ethnic group should be used. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.