Development of Prediction Equations for Body Composition in Indian Children Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

We aimed to develop a BIA equation to predict fat free mass (FFM) using deuterium oxide (H2O) dilution as the reference method for children. Seventy seven children (36 boys and 41 girls), aged 6 to 24 month participated in the study. The best fi t FFM prediction equation included weight, sex and length2/resistance (adjusted R2=0.83 and root mean square error of 0.49 kg). Applying »leave-one-out« method the mean of the differences of FFM in kg and % body weight were nearly zero with 95% confi dence intervals of ±0.108 kg between those derived by H2O dilution and by the validated equation. PRESS statistic residual was 473g (»0). The best fi t equation for FFMkg was: FFMkg=0.72+0.30× (weight) +0.16× (sex) +0.52× (Length2/resistance) (Length in cm, weight in kg, resistance in W, sex: boys=1, girls=0). The derived predictive equation has good precision and is useful for community based studies on body composition in South Asian children.