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

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 279–285 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Due to the fact that obesity is defined as excess of body fat mass, 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 measurement, 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 interaction terms showed a significant influence on PBF, regression analysis was performed separately for boys and girls, dividing each group into two age subgroups (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 independent variables. In boys younger than 10 y 73% and in girls younger than 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 emphasized that there is a wide range in the relationship between PBF and BMI in the obese subjects.

CONCLUSION: From these results we conclude that BMI might be a useful parameter for epidemiological studies: however in the individual pediatric patient, especially from 10 y onwards, it gives only a limited insight to the degree of obesity based on the definition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Vienna, Intensive Care and Congenital Anomalies, Vienna, Austria

    K Widhalm, K Schönegger, C Huemer & A Auterith

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  1. K Widhalm
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  2. K Schönegger
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  3. C Huemer
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  4. A Auterith
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Widhalm, K., Schönegger, K., Huemer, C. et al. Does the BMI reflect body fat in obese children and adolescents? A study using the TOBEC method. Int J Obes 25, 279–285 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801511

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