Body composition assessment in a sample of eight-year-old children

Abstract Objective We assessed the body composition of 8-y-old children living in Livorno through the integration of bioelectrical and anthropometric evaluations. Methods The study, conducted during December 2005, involved 8-y-old third graders of Livorno, Italy. We collected for each subject (449 children, 210 female and 239 male) anthropometric parameters and carried out bioelectrical impedance test with a STA/BIA Soft Tissue Analyzer. Data were processed with SPSS 14.0. Results According to anthropometric parameters, a statistically significant difference between genders was found only for height. Percentages of overweight and obese children by gender were 13.9 and 2.4 for girls and 21.3 and 2.1 for boys ( P Conclusion An integrated interpretation of bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry, demonstrated by the correlation of many parameters between the two techniques, seems to emerge as a good indication of nutritional status for most children of both genders.