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Accuracy of skinfold and bioelectrical impedance assessments of body fat percentage in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Oeffinger Donna J,
Gurka Matthew J,
Kuperminc Michelle,
Hassani Sahar,
Buhr Neeley,
Tylkowski Chester
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12342
Subject(s) - bioelectrical impedance analysis , medicine , cerebral palsy , gross motor function classification system , limits of agreement , body fat percentage , nuclear medicine , ambulatory , confidence interval , bland–altman plot , dual energy x ray absorptiometry , anthropometry , body mass index , physical therapy , surgery , bone mineral , osteoporosis
Aim This study assessed the accuracy of measurements of body fat percentage in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy ( CP ) from bioelectrical impedance analysis ( BIA ) and skinfold equations. Method One hundred and twenty‐eight individuals (65 males, 63 females; mean age 12y, SD 3, range 6–18y) with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System [ GMFCS ] levels I ( n =6), II ( n =46), and III ( n =19) participated. Body fat percentage was estimated from (1) BIA using standing height and estimated heights (knee height and tibial length) and (2) triceps and subscapular skinfolds using standard and CP ‐specific equations. All estimates of body fat percentage were compared with body fat percentage from dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) scans. Differences between DXA , BIA , and skinfold body fat percentage were analyzed by comparing mean differences. Agreement was assessed by Bland–Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficients ( CCC ). Results BMI was moderately correlated with DXA (Pearson's r =0.53). BIA body fat percentage was significantly different from DXA when using estimated heights (95% confidence intervals [ CI s] do not contain 0) but not standing height (95% CI −1.9 to 0.4). CCC s for all BIA comparisons indicated good to excellent agreement (0.75–0.82) with DXA . Body fat percentage from skinfold measurements and CP ‐specific equations was not significantly different from DXA (mean 0.8%; SD 5.3%; 95% CI −0.2 to 1.7) and demonstrated strong agreement with DXA ( CCC 0.86). Interpretation Accurate measures of body fat percentage can be obtained using BIA and two skinfold measurements ( CP ‐specific equations) in ambulatory individuals with CP . These findings should encourage assessments of body fat in clinical and research practices.