Does the BMI reflect body fat in obese children and adolescents? A study using the TOBEC method

OBJECTIVE: Due to the fact that obesity is defined as excess of body fat ma ss, we tested the hypothesis whether the body mass index (BMI) can be used as a valid measure for the detection of the degree of obesity in individual obese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 204 obese children and adolescents (105 boys, 99 girls) aged 6-17 y, using total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) for fat meas urement, were included into this study. A multiple regression analysis was performed with percentage body fat (PBF) as dependent variable and BMI, age and sex as independent variables. First - and second-order interaction terms were also included. Since all interact ion terms showed a significant influence on PBF, regression analysis was pe rformed separately for boys and girls, dividing each group into two age sub groups (subjects younger than 10 y, and subjects 10 y or older). RESULTS: BMI and PBF were observed to be positively correlated (overall: r = 0,65; P = 0.0001; boys r = 0.63 and girls: r = 0.68). Through a multiple regression analysis 57% of the variance of PBF could be explained by the in dependent variables. In boys younger than 10 y 73% and in girls younger tha n 10 y 63% of the variance of PBF was explained by the BMI. In subjects 10 y or older the association was poor (boys: 27%; girls: 38%). It should be e mphasized that there is a wide range in the relationship between PBF and BM I in the obese subjects. CONCLUSION: From these results we conclude that BMI might be a useful param eter for epidemiological studies: however in the individual pediatric patie nt, especially from 10 y onwards, it gives only a limited insight to the de gree of obesity based on the definition.