Open AccessEstablishing a normative table for classifying body fat percentage in adolescents
Author(s) -
Regiane De Paula Sena,
Isabella Caroline Santos,
Beatriz de Souza Cerqueira,
Fabiano Mendes de Oliveira,
Fábio Ricardo Acêncio,
Carina Bertoldi Franco,
Bráulio Henrique Magnani Branco
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of human growth and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.218
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 2175-3598
pISSN - 0104-1282
DOI - 10.36311/jhgd.v32.11542
Subject(s) - bioelectrical impedance analysis , percentile , body fat percentage , obesity , medicine , overweight , percentage point , cut point , demography , psychology , body mass index , mathematics , statistics , sociology
The prevalence of obesity in adolescents has increased worldwide, which is closely related to comorbidities in adulthood. Despite the severity of this pathology and its significant impacts on the health system, there is no international consensus on the cut-off point for the percentage of body fat for Brazilian children and adolescents, making it difficult to make an accurate and early diagnosis addition to assertive treatment.
Objective: This study aimed to establish cut-off points for body fat percentage in male and female adolescents aged 16 to 19 years using bioelectrical impedance (InBody 570®).
Methods: Gender-specific tables were proposed based on the percentiles 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, 85, 95, and 97. A total of 546 adolescents were included.
Results: The body fat percentage cut-off points for the male group were: P3 = 6.0-7.0%; P5 = 7.1-8.9%; P10 = 9.0-9.8%; P15 = 9.9-11.7%; P25 = 11.8-15.5%; P50 = 15.6-21.9%; P75 = 22.0-27.8%; P85 = 27.9-36.0%; P95 = 36.1-38.0% and P97 ≥ 38.1%. For females, the cut-off points were: P3 = 9.5-10.0%; P5 = 10.1-11.0%; P10 = 11.1-11.8%; P15 = 11.9-14.0%; P25 = 14.1-19.0%; P50 = 19.1-27.1%; P75 = 27.2-29.0%; P85 = 29.1-39.9%; P95 = 40.0-51.0% and P97 ≥ 51.0%.
Conclusion: The establishment of cut-off points for body fat percentage may improve the clinical assessment and management of overweight and obese adolescents.