Validity of predictive equations developed to estimate body fat from anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis in 8-10 year-old children.

Background & Aim: To date, no studies have examined the validity of skinfold-based (SF) equations and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in predicting body fat in children of Middle-Eastern origin. The objective of this study was to examine the predictive validity of previously published SF-based equations and BIA in estimating body fat in 8-10 year-old Lebanese children, and to develop new prediction equations for use in this population group.

Methods: 158 subjects participated in the study. Percent body fat (% BF) estimates derived from SF-based equations and BIA were compared against the deuterium dilution technique (DDL). Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted for the development of new prediction equations to estimate %BF using anthropometric variables.

Results: Bland-Altman analysis showed that SF-based equations and BIA significantly underestimated %BF as compared to DDL. Mean differences in %BF ranged between 1.3 and 6.5% in boys and 4.5-9.5% in girls. New anthropometry-based equations were proposed for the prediction of %BF in Lebanese pre-pubertal children.

Conclusion: Previously published prediction equations underestimated %BF in Lebanese pre-pubertal children. The validity of the new prediction equations developed in this study to estimate %BF in Lebanese children needs to be investigated in future studies.