Does the body adiposity index (BAI) apply to paediatric populations?. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El Aarbaoui, T.; Samouda, H.; Zitouni, D.; di Pompeo, C.; de Beaufort, C.; Trincaretto, F.; Mormentyn, A.; Hubert, H.; Lemdani, M.; Guinhouya, B. C.
• Is Part Of: Annals of human biology. Volume 40:Number 5(2013:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 451
• Page End: 458
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Human biology -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2013.802011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4460

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: Validation of body adiposity index (BAI) in a paediatrics sample; and to develop, if necessary, a valid BAI for paediatrics (i.e. BAI<sub>p</sub>).</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: A total of 1615 children (52% boys) aged 5–12 years underwent anthropometry. Their body composition was assessed using a foot-to-foot bioimpedance. The validity of BAI = (Hip circumference/Height<sup>1.5</sup>) − 18 was tested by combining correlation and agreement statistics. Then, the sample was split into two sub-samples for the construction of BAI<sub>p</sub>. A regression was used to compute the prediction equation for BAI<sub>p</sub>-based percentage of body fat (%BF).</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The initial BAI over-estimated the %BF of children by 49% (29.6 ± 4.2% versus 19.8 ± 6.8%; <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). The original methodology led to a BAI<sub>p</sub> = (Hip circumference/Height<sup>0.8</sup>) − 38 in children. When compared to BAI, BAI<sub>p</sub> showed both better correlation (<italic>r</italic> = 0.57; <italic>p</italic> < 0.01 versus <italic>r</italic> = 0.74; <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001) and agreement (ICC = 0.34; [95% CI = −0.19–0.65] versus ICC = 0.83; [95% CI = 0.81–0.84]). However, there were some systematic biases between the two values of %BF as exemplified by the large 95% limit of agreement [−9.1%; 8.8%] obtained.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: BAI over-estimates the %BF in children. In contrast, BAI<sub>p</sub> appears as a new index for children's body fatness, with acceptable accuracy. In its current form, this index is valid only for large-scale studies.</p> </abstract>