Trey R. Naylor¹, Elizabeth A. Easley², Jody L.Clasey^{1, 3,}

The purpose of this study is to determine if our previously published pediatric-specific bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equation can successfully estimate body composition in 1) 5-11 year old, black, non-Hispanic and biracial children and in 2) children ages 2-4 years. A sample of 135 children (aged 5 to 11 years) was used for specific aim 1 while an additional sample of 47 children (aged 2 to 4 years) was used to assess specific aim 2. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) fat-free mass (FFM) was used as the criterion measure, and a single frequency tetra-polar BIA device was used within the pediatric-specific BIA equation. Our pediatric-specific BIA equation FFM explained 96.8% of the variance in DXA FFM within the 5-11 year old, black, non-Hispanic and biracial sample while explaining 94.1% of the variance in DXA FFM within the 2-4 year old sample. The use and application of our pediatric-specific BIA equation will provide a valuable tool to help prevent and combat childhood obesity by providing a method of assessing body composition that is considered valid, non-invasive, and economical and can be used in the laboratory, as well as a clinic or field setting.

body composition assessment, fat-free mass, pediatric, obesity, BIA prediction equation