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Abstract
Background: The clinical assessment of lean body mass (LBM) is challenging in obese children. A sex-specific predictive equation for LBM derived from anthropometric data was recently validated in children.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to independently validate these predictive equations in the obese paediatric population.
Subjects and methods: Obese subjects aged 4–21 were analysed retrospectively. Predicted LBM (LBMp) was calculated using equations previously developed in children. Measured LBM (LBMm) was derived from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Agreement was expressed as [(LBMm-LBMp)/LBMm] with 95% limits of agreement.
Results: Of 310 enrolled patients, 195 (63%) were females. The mean age was 11.8 ± 3.4 years and mean BMI Z-score was 2.3 ± 0.4. The average difference between LBMm and LBMp was −0.6% (−17.0%, 15.8%). Pearson’s correlation revealed a strong linear relationship between LBMm and LBMp (r = 0.97, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: This study validates the use of these clinically-derived sex-specific LBM predictive equations in the obese paediatric population. Future studies should use these equations to improve the ability to accurately classify LBM in obese children.
Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, with an academic home at the Medical University of South Carolina, NIH/NCATS Grant number UL1 TR00062. Drs Jackson and Chowdhury were supported by NIH/NHLBI 5-T32-HL007710.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.