Reliability of the classification of nutritional status obtained through the BMI and three different methods of body fat percentage in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective: To assess the reliability of classification of nutritional status (NS) obtained through the body mass index (BMI) and three different methods of body composition (BC) in individuals type 1 diabetics (T1D) and non-diabetic subjects. Methods: 84 patients with T1D and 37 controls were evaluated. Anthropometric data was collected to calculate BMI and assessment of BC was performed through the methods of skinfold thickness (SF), bipolar (131) and tetrapolar (TT) bioelectrical impedance. The agreement between the scores of each method was determined by Kappa (K) coefficient. Results: Considering all the patients, only 48 (571%) presented classification of BMI that agreed with the SF method, 58 (69%) with the BI and 45 (53.5%) with the TT. The K results for individuals with T1D was DC = 0.261, BI = 0.320 and 17 = 0.174. The controls had higher values (DC = 0.605, BI = 0.360 and TT = 0.400). However, all values were considered low. Conclusions: The method of BMI showed little sensitivity to BC changes in patients with T1D. Appropriated methods for the assessment of BC should be used to classify the NS of this population. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2009;53(3):360-7.