Yonsei Med J.  2015 Jan;56(1):95-102. 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.1.95.

Reference Values of Body Composition Indices: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

• Park HW
• Yoo HY
• Kim CH
• Kim H
• Kwak BO
• Kim KS
• Chung S

• KMID: 2352794
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2015.56.1.95

Abstract

PURPOSE
An increase in the prevalence of obesity has been observed in children and adolescents. As remarkable changes in body composition occur with growth during the adolescent period, it is important that changes in body composition be monitored. The purpose of this study was to propose reference percentile values for body composition indices including body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents in Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was performed using data from the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Body composition data were obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The percentile curves of body composition indices were constructed by the LMS method.
RESULTS
A total of 2123 children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years were included in this study. We obtained the percentile curves for BMI and body composition indices.
CONCLUSION
The reference values for body composition from this study could help with assessing body composition in Korean adolescents.

Keyword

Body mass index; percent body fat; fat mass index; fat-free mass index; adolescent

MeSH Terms

Adiposity
Adolescent
*Body Composition
*Body Mass Index
Child
Female
Humans
Male
*Nutrition Surveys
Reference Values
Republic of Korea

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Smoothed LMS percentile curves for body mass index in both genders. Curves are for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles for body mass index (kg/m2) in male (A) and female (B) adolescents. The LMS parameters are the skewness (L), median (M), and coefficient of variation (S).

• 

  Fig. 2 Smoothed LMS percentile curves for percent body fat in both genders. Curves are for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles for percent body fat (%) in male (A) and female (B) adolescents. The LMS parameters are the skewness (L), median (M), and coefficient of variation (S).

• 

  Fig. 3 Smoothed LMS percentile curves for fat mass index in both genders. Curves are for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles for fat mass index (kg/m2) in male (A) and female (B) adolescents. The LMS parameters are the skewness (L), median (M), and coefficient of variation (S).

• 

  Fig. 4 Smoothed LMS percentile curves for fat-free mass index in both genders. Curves are for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles for fat-free mass index (kg/m2) in male (A) and female (B) adolescents. The LMS parameters are the skewness (L), median (M), and coefficient of variation (S).

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