BMI Fails to Reflect the Developmental Changes in Body Fatness between Boys and Girls during Adolescence

Alan M. Nevill, Cézane Priscila Reuter, Caroline Brand, Anelise Reis Gaya, Jorge Mota, Jane Dagmar Pollo Renner and Michael J. Duncan
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Alan M. Nevill: Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall WS1 3BD, UK
Cézane Priscila Reuter: Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul 96816-501, Brazil
Caroline Brand: Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul 96816-501, Brazil
Anelise Reis Gaya: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90040-060, Brazil
Jorge Mota: Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
Jane Dagmar Pollo Renner: Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Cruz do Sul 96816-501, Brazil
Michael J. Duncan: Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences Research Centre, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-9

Abstract: Body mass index (BMI) is thought to reflect excess adiposity in both youth and adults alike. However, the association between BMI and fatness varies, especially as children grow into adults. Thus, the present study sought to address this issue by characterizing how BMI reflects age and sex differences in body fatness in 7–16-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2150 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 16 years from the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. BMI (kg/m 2 ), and percentage body fat, using tricipital and subscapular folds, were assessed. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Results: When considered in isolation, there was no significant interaction in the age-by-sex differences in BMI ( p = 0.69). However, when we controlled for percent body fatness, the analysis revealed considerable age-by-sex differences in BMI ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: For the same body fat (%), there are no differences in BMI in children <10 years.

Keywords: obesity; overweight; paediatrics; growth; anthropometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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