Nutr Res Pract.  2010 Apr;4(2):128-135.

Comparisons of obesity assessments in over-weight elementary students using anthropometry, BIA, CT and DEXA

• Yu OK
• Rhee YK
• Park TS
• Cha YS

Abstract

Obesity was characterized in Korean elementary students using different obesity assessment tests on 103 overweight elementary students from three schools of Jeonbuk Province. The body mass index (BMI) and obesity index (OI) were compared, and the data using DEXA and CT were compared with the data using BIA and a tape measure. The results of this study are as follows: first, 27 students who were classified as obese by OI were classified as overweight by BMI, and 3 students who were classified as standard weight by BMI were classified as overweight by OI. Secondly, by DEXA and BIA measurements, there was 1.51% difference in body fat percentage (boys 1.66%, girls 1.17%) and the difference in body fat mass between boys and girls was 0.77 kg (boys 0.85 kg, girls 0.59 kg), but those differences in body fat percentage and mass were not statistically significant. Thirdly, the average total abdominal fat (TAF) measured by CT scans of obese children was more significantly related with subcutaneous fat (r = 0.983, P < 0.01) than visceral fat (r = 0.640, P < 0.01). Also, TAF were highest significant with waist circumference by a tape measure (r = 0.744, P < 0.01). In summary, as there are some differences of assessment results between two obesity test methods (BMI, OI), we need more definite standards to determine the degree of obesity. The BIA seems to be the most simple and effective way to measure body fat mass, whereas waist/hip ratio (WHR) using a tape measurer is considered to be the most effective method for assessing abdominal fat in elementary students.

Keyword

Obesity assessment methods; anthropometry; BIA (Bioimpedance Analysis); CT (Computed Tomography) and DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry)

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Adipose Tissue
Anthropometry
Body Mass Index
Child
Humans
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Obesity
Overweight
Subcutaneous Fat
Waist Circumference

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Correlations between DEXA & BIA of fat mass (boys & girls)

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  Fig. 2 Correlations between DEXA & BIA of lean body mass (boys & girls)

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  Fig. 3 Correlations between DEXA & BIA of fat ratio (boys & girls)

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  Fig. 4 Correlations between total fat & subcutaneous abdominal fat (boys & girls)

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  Fig. 5 Correlations between visceral fat & anthropometric waist (boys & girls))

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  Fig. 6 Correlations between visceral fat & WHR (BIA) (boys & girls)

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