Validation of A Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Equation for Predicting Body Composition in Young Children of Varying Ages and Ethnicities

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

¹Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA 40502

²Math, Science, Nursing, & Public Health, University of South Carolina Lancaster, Lancaster, SC, USA 29720

³Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA 40502

Cite this paper:
Trey R. Naylor, Elizabeth A. Easley and Jody L.Clasey. Validation of A Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Equation for Predicting Body Composition in Young Children of Varying Ages and Ethnicities. International Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2026; 10(1):1-6. doi: 10.12691/ijcn-10-1-1

Abstract

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.

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

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