Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2019 Apr;10(2):108-114. 10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.2.10.

Percentage Body Fat is As a Good Indicator for Determining Adolescents Who Are Overweight or Obese: A Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam

• Trang LT
• Trung NN
• Chu DT
• Hanh NT

• KMID: 2447840
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.2.10

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To identify trends in percentage body fat (PBF) in adolescents to determine gender-specific classification thresholds for being overweight and obese.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 899 adolescents (11 to 14.5 years) from Hanoi and Nam Dinh was conducted in Vietnam. PBF, subcutaneous fat and percentage of lean mass were measured directly using OMRON HBF 375 scales to measure bioelectrical impedance.
RESULTS
PBF decreased in boys with increasing age (p < 0.001). The difference in PBF between boys and girls, significantly increased with age after 12.5 years (p < 0.001). There was a stronger correlation between PBF and fat content (Pearson's r = 0.860, p < 0.0001) than that between (BMI) and fat content (Pearson's r = 0.521, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of being overweight or obese in girls was similar when determined by PBF or BMI. Hanoi had higher rates of adolescents being overweight or obese compared with Nam Dinh.
CONCLUSION
PBF provides a more accurate body assessment for being overweight or obese in adolescents compared with BMI.

Keyword

adolescent; body fat; body mass index; obesity; overweight

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue*
Adolescent*
Body Mass Index
Classification
Cross-Sectional Studies*
Electric Impedance
Female
Humans
Obesity
Overweight*
Prevalence
Subcutaneous Fat
Vietnam*
Weights and Measures