Utility of different measures of body fat distribution in children and adolescents

The distribution of body fat has been shown to be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate w hich method of evaluating body fat distribution compares most favorably wit h dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The study included 201 children and ado lescents aged 7-17 years who were recruited from Cincinnati, Ohio, schools in 1992-1993. The strongest correlate of fat distribution was waist circumf erence (r = 0.80). Age was a more important determinant of fat distribution than was pubertal maturation. There was a greater relative deposition of c entral body fat with increasing age. Multiple regression analysis demonstra ted that waist circumference was the best simple measure of fat distributio n, since it was least affected by gender, race, and overall adiposity. Wais t circumference is easy to determine and is a useful measure of fat distrib ution for children and adolescents.