Abstract

Background: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a seriously increasing cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of childhood obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome increased during the past three decades. Unfortunately, the methods for the measurement of total fat ratio in childhood and adolescent period are still limited and diffucult.

Objective: The present study aims comparing the classical skinfold and the new bioelectrical impedance (BIA) methods to determine the body composition in childhood and adolescent periods.

Methods: 86 cases (45 boys and 41 girls) between 7-15 years of age were included in this study. The body mass index (BMI), fat percent (FAT%), fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) of all the cases were determined by both skinfold and BIA methods.

Results: When the body composition parameters were evaluated, a positive correlation was found between these two methods. When these two methods were compared, there was a statistically significant difference in all parameters of body composition in boys of 7-12 years of age.

Conclusion: This study suggest that the BIA method could be used in children over 12 years to determine the obesity, whereas further studies are needed for children below 12 years of age

Keywords: Childhood, adolescent, bioelectrical impedance, skinfold method

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Copyright and license

How to cite

1.
Ergür AT, Onarlıoğlu T, Marakoğlu K, Sezer H, Suzen B, Öktem A. COMPARISON OF BODY COMPOSITION PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, USING SKİNFOLD AND BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE METHODS. Turk J Pediatr Dis [Internet]. 2012 Jun. 1 [cited 2025 May 24];6(3):133-8. Available from: https://turkjpediatrdis.org/article/view/186