Reference Ranges of Body Composition Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Its Relation to Tri-Ponderal Mass Index

Abstract

Introduction/background Increased body fat is related to obesity and its comorbidities later in life. To determine the amount of body fat in children and adolescents, reference intervals should be applied. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a good tool for accurately measuring body composition. Methodology The body composition reference ranges in Korean children and adolescents were determined using nationally representative cross-sectional data. The performances of the body mass index (BMI) and tri-ponderal mass index (TMI) in measuring body fat were compared using the reference percentiles derived from this analysis. Results A total of 1,661 subjects (891 boys and men and 770 girls and women) were included. Age- and sex-specific percentiles and the corresponding LMS variables for DXA-assessed parameters for the whole body and the trunk were determined. The coefficients of determination of the whole body FM SDS and FMI SDS for the BMI SDS were 0.783 and 0.784, respectively, and those for the TMI SDS were 0.685 and 0.769, respectively. Conclusion Based on the reference values for body composition, the correlation coefficients of TMI for adjusted FM measured by DXA were comparable to those of BMI. TMI estimated body fat levels more accurately than BMI in this study population.