Body Composition Percentiles in Urban South Indian Children and Adolescents

Objective: This study aimed to generate age- and sex-specific percentiles for body composition indices in children and to assess the variability in these indices, in relation to BMI. Methods: Anthropometry and body fat were measured with the BOD POD (Cosmed; Rome, Italy) in 9,702 children from Bangalore, India. Smoothed percentile curves using the lambda-mu-sigma method were obtained for BMI, fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index (FMI), and body fat percentage (% BF). Results: Percentile curves for % BF and FMI in boys increased from 6 to 12 years and declined from 13 years on, while in girls, it increased until 15 years. The FFMI percentile curves increased with age in both sexes. The mean FMI declined from 12 years on in boys, corresponding to a large increase in FFMI from that age, while in girls, both FMI and FFMI continued to increase. The 75th percentile of % BF and FMI had greater sensitivity to identify children with obesity. Conclusions: This study developed smoothed percentile curves for body composition in Indian children and suggests FMI and FFMI as good indicators of growth in children.