New age-adjusted measure of body fat distribution in children and adolescents: standardization of waist-hip ratio using multivariate analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To explore a new anthropometric index of body fat distribution adjusted for ages ranging from 6-15 y in both boys and girls.

DESIGN

Sex, age, and 11 anthropometric variables were subjected to principal component analysis. Based on these results, we developed a new anthropometric index, namely an age-adjusted measure of body-fat distribution. This index was evaluated statistically for suitability of use in epidemiological surveys.

SUBJECTS

Japanese children, including obese and nonobese subjects, in one elementary and one junior high school in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan: 508 boys and 549 girls whos ages ranged from 6 y 1 mon-15 y.

MEASUREMENTS

Measurements included the height (Ht), body weight, circumference of the waist, hip and thigh. Body mass index, the ratios of the waist, hip or thigh to the Ht, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-thigh ration were calculated.

RESULTS

The first principal component (PC 1) accounted for 49.8% of the total variation, and was interpreted as an indicator of the general size on an individual. PC 2 accounted for 25.9%, and was interpreted as a shape measure that indicates body fat distribution. Calculation of WHR/Ht, a parameter that represented PC 2 adjusted by PC 1, gave an highly robust linear regression equation for age by gender. The residuals from the regression line for WHR/Ht deviated from normal distribution only in the boys, whereas the mean residual was nearly zero and distribution of the residuals was similar in three age subgroups by gender, supporting the use of the common standard deviation score in all age groups as an indicator of body fat distribution.

CONCLUSION

The common standard deviation score of WHR/Ht can serve as an epidemiological index of body fat distribution adjusted for ages between 6 and 15 y.