Utility of different measures of body fat distribution in children and adolescents

The distribution of body fat has been shown to be an important determinant of cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which method of evaluating body fat distribution compares most favorably with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The study included 201 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years who were recruited from Cincinnati, Ohio, schools in 1992-1993. The strongest correlate of fat distribution was waist circumference (r = 0.80). Age was a more important determinant of fat distribution than was pubertal maturation. There was a greater relative deposition of central body fat with increasing age. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference was the best simple measure of fat distribution, since it was least affected by gender, race, and overall adiposity. Waist circumference is easy to determine and is a useful measure of fat distribution for children and adolescents.