Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Dec;24(4):243-247. 10.6065/apem.2019.24.4.243.

Application of body composition zones in boys with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Choi M
• Lee S
• Bae SH
• Chung S

• KMID: 2468726
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2019.24.4.243

Abstract

PURPOSE
Screening nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by body mass index (BMI) as a single surrogate measure for obesity has limitations. We suggest considering body composition zones by drawing a body composition chart composed of body composition indices, including BMI and percent body fat (PBF), to visualize the risk of NAFLD in obese children and adolescents.
METHODS
Thirty-eight boys diagnosed with NAFLD were selected retrospectively from patients who visited Konkuk University Medical Center from 2006 to 2015. They had gone through body composition analysis by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and biochemical analyses, including a liver function test (LFT) and lipid panel, were performed. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were calculated from body composition analysis and height. We plotted FFMI and FMI of patients on a body composition chart and classified the patients into zones A to D. In addition, we analyzed the correlations between LFT, lipid panel, and body composition indices.
RESULTS
Thirty-three of 38 boys (86.8%) were located in zone C, corresponding to high BMI and PBF. Four boys (10.5%) were located in zone D, which correlates with sarcopenic obesity. One boy located in zone B was a muscular adolescent. Alanine aminotransferase level was positively correlated with PBF, FMI, and BMI z-score.
CONCLUSION
Body composition zones on a body composition chart might be useful in risk assessment in obesity-related diseases such as NAFLD. Zones on a body composition chart could have practical applications, especially in sarcopenic obese children and adolescents.

Keyword

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Childhood and adolescent obesity; Body composition; Sarcopenic obesity

MeSH Terms

Academic Medical Centers
Adipose Tissue
Adolescent
Alanine Transaminase
Body Composition*
Body Mass Index
Child
Electric Impedance
Humans
Liver Function Tests
Male
Mass Screening
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease*
Obesity
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Alanine Transaminase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. The plotting of FFMI and FMI in NAFLD patients on body composition chart. The x-axis represents the FFMI, and the y-axis depicts FMI of individual. The lines of BMI and PBF were added to the same plane. NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; BMI, body mass index PBF, percent body fat; FMI, fat mass index; FFMI, fat free mass index.

Reference

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