Reference charts for body composition parameters by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in European children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years-Results from the AustrianLEAD(Lung,hEart,sociAl,boDy) cohort

Alina Ofenheimer*, Robab Breyer-Kohansal, Sylvia Hartl, Otto C. Burghuber, Florian Krach, Andrea Schrott, Frits M. E. Franssen, Emiel F. M. Wouters, Marie-Kathrin Breyer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background DXA is a widely used technique to assess body composition. Reference values based on a large general population cohort of European children and adolescents were missing. The aim of this study was to provide age- and sex-specific reference percentiles of body composition parameters for European children and adolescents and to compare them to the American NHANES cohort. Additionally, exponents accounting best for height biases were analysed. Methods DXA scans of 1573 participants, aged 6 to 18 years, recruited from 2011 to 2019 by the Austrian LEAD study, a representative population-based cohort, have been used to create reference charts using the LMS model. Results Reference charts displaying percentile curves and the corresponding reference values are provided. Fat mass parameters were higher in females, while lean mass parameters were higher in males. Compared to theNHANEScohort medians ofFMIandLMIwere always lower. ForFMI,BMI,LMIandALMIthe best fitting exponent were 2.5, 3, 3 and 3.5 respectively Conclusions The present study provides reference charts for children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years, for body composition parameters assessed by DXA. The charts enable comparison to a European general-population cohort and indicate that reference populations should be chosen with caution.

Original languageEnglish
Article number12695
Number of pages11
JournalPediatric Obesity
Volume16
Issue number1
Early online date2 Jul 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Keywords

  • body composition
  • children
  • DXA
  • reference values
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • MASS INDEX
  • FAT

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reference charts for body composition parameters by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in European children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years-Results from the AustrianLEAD(Lung,hEart,sociAl,boDy) cohort'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this