Estimate of the Body Fat in Nepalese Children by Their Body Mass Index

DOI HANDLE Web Site Open Access

Search this article

Abstract

The body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) is widely used to assess the prevalence of childhood obesity in populations, and to infer the risk of subsequent obesity-related disease. However, there are limitations regarding the use of the BMI based on stature and body mass. The purpose of this study was to determine a prediction equation for the fat mass (FM, kg) in Nepalese children using the relationship between the fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2) and the BMI. A cross-sectional design was used for the study. Data from 51 healthy children ranging from 3.0 to 5.0 years of age, including 24 boys and 27 girls selected from the ongoing Q-dai Nepal Healthy Survey (QNS), were used for these analyses. BMI was significantly and positively correlated with the FM (boys; r=0.564, girls; r=0.555) and %FM (boys; r=0.686, girls; r=0.693) in each gender group (p<0.05). There was a significant linear correlation between the FMI and BMI in both boys (r=0.740, p<0.05) and girsl (r=0.789, p<0.05). The Bland-Altman limits of agreement (-2 to +2 SD of the difference) were ±0.59 for boys and ±0.39 for girls. Of the 24 boys subjects, 22 (91.7%) were within ±2SD, and of the 27 girls subjects, 27 (100%) were within ±2SD. It can therefore be concluded that the BMI formula is a good indicator for measuring the nutritional status in Nepalese children. This equation is very easy to apply to children with any degree of obesity or thinness, and it also provides an estimate of the FM that is not much less accurate than that obtained by specialized laboratory methods.

Journal

  • 健康科学

    健康科学 33 63-68, 2011-03-25

    九州大学健康科学センター

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top