Body mass index (BMI) predicts percent body fat better than body adiposity index (BAI) in school children.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Child obesity is associated with increased risk of adult obesity, and is considered as one important health risk factor. Appropriate indicators are required to identify potential risks of child adiposity. This study for the first time compares body mass index (BMI) and body adiposity index (BAI) for predicting percent body fat (PBF) in children.

METHODS

We measured statures, weights, and hip circumferences of 527 children of Han ethnicity and calculated BMI and BAI. PBF was obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis. We adopted Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

For each sex, we found that: 1) BMI and BAI were significantly correlated with PBF; 2) the correlation coefficient between BMI and PBF was higher than that between BAI and PBF; 3) BMI better predicted PBF in the linear regression analysis; 4) the discriminatory capacity of the BMI is higher than the one of BAI in ROC analysis.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, BMI is a more reliable PBF indicator predicting adiposity in children. This finding may aid future obesity monitoring and intervention in children.