BMI fails to reflect the developmental changes in body fatness between boys and girls during adolescence

Alan M. Nevill; Cézane Priscila Reuter; Caroline Brand; Anelise Reis Gaya; Jorge Mota; Jane Dagmar Pollo Renner; Michael J. Duncan

doi:10.3390/ijerph18157833

BMI fails to reflect the developmental changes in body fatness between boys and girls during adolescence

Alan M. Nevill
, Cézane Priscila Reuter
, Caroline Brand
, Anelise Reis Gaya
, Jorge Mota
, Jane Dagmar Pollo Renner
, Michael J. Duncan

University of Wolverhampton
University of Santa Cruz do Sul
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sol
University of Porto

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

113 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Body mass index (BMI) is thought to reflect excess adiposity in both youth and adults alike. However, the association between BMI and fatness varies, especially as children grow into adults. Thus, the present study sought to address this issue by characterizing how BMI reflects age and sex differences in body fatness in 7–16-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2150 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 16 years from the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. BMI (kg/m²), and percentage body fat, using tricipital and subscapular folds, were assessed. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Results: When considered in isolation, there was no significant interaction in the age-by-sex differences in BMI (p = 0.69). However, when we controlled for percent body fatness, the analysis revealed considerable age-by-sex differences in BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For the same body fat (%), there are no differences in BMI in children < 10 years.

Original language	English
Article number	7833
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	18
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157833
Publication status	Published - 23 Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research received no external funding from the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination—Brazil (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

Funding: This research received no external funding from the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination—Brazil (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Anthropometry
Growth
Obesity
Overweight
Paediatrics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph18157833Licence: CC BY

Nevil_et_al_BMI_fails_to_reflectFinal published version, 682 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "BMI fails to reflect the developmental changes in body fatness between boys and girls during adolescence",

abstract = "Body mass index (BMI) is thought to reflect excess adiposity in both youth and adults alike. However, the association between BMI and fatness varies, especially as children grow into adults. Thus, the present study sought to address this issue by characterizing how BMI reflects age and sex differences in body fatness in 7–16-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2150 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 16 years from the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. BMI (kg/m2), and percentage body fat, using tricipital and subscapular folds, were assessed. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Results: When considered in isolation, there was no significant interaction in the age-by-sex differences in BMI (p = 0.69). However, when we controlled for percent body fatness, the analysis revealed considerable age-by-sex differences in BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For the same body fat (\%), there are no differences in BMI in children < 10 years.",

keywords = "Anthropometry, Growth, Obesity, Overweight, Paediatrics",

author = "Nevill, \{Alan M.\} and Reuter, \{C{\'e}zane Priscila\} and Caroline Brand and Gaya, \{Anelise Reis\} and Jorge Mota and Renner, \{Jane Dagmar Pollo\} and Duncan, \{Michael J.\}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: This research received no external funding from the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination—Brazil (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

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doi = "10.3390/ijerph18157833",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health",

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AU - Nevill, Alan M.

AU - Reuter, Cézane Priscila

AU - Brand, Caroline

AU - Gaya, Anelise Reis

AU - Mota, Jorge

AU - Renner, Jane Dagmar Pollo

AU - Duncan, Michael J.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research received no external funding from the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination—Brazil (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/7/23

Y1 - 2021/7/23

N2 - Body mass index (BMI) is thought to reflect excess adiposity in both youth and adults alike. However, the association between BMI and fatness varies, especially as children grow into adults. Thus, the present study sought to address this issue by characterizing how BMI reflects age and sex differences in body fatness in 7–16-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2150 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 16 years from the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. BMI (kg/m2), and percentage body fat, using tricipital and subscapular folds, were assessed. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Results: When considered in isolation, there was no significant interaction in the age-by-sex differences in BMI (p = 0.69). However, when we controlled for percent body fatness, the analysis revealed considerable age-by-sex differences in BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For the same body fat (%), there are no differences in BMI in children < 10 years.

AB - Body mass index (BMI) is thought to reflect excess adiposity in both youth and adults alike. However, the association between BMI and fatness varies, especially as children grow into adults. Thus, the present study sought to address this issue by characterizing how BMI reflects age and sex differences in body fatness in 7–16-year-old children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2150 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 16 years from the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. BMI (kg/m2), and percentage body fat, using tricipital and subscapular folds, were assessed. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used. Results: When considered in isolation, there was no significant interaction in the age-by-sex differences in BMI (p = 0.69). However, when we controlled for percent body fatness, the analysis revealed considerable age-by-sex differences in BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For the same body fat (%), there are no differences in BMI in children < 10 years.

KW - Anthropometry

KW - Growth

KW - Obesity

KW - Overweight

KW - Paediatrics

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85110765231

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph18157833

DO - 10.3390/ijerph18157833

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85110765231

SN - 1661-7827

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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M1 - 7833

ER -

BMI fails to reflect the developmental changes in body fatness between boys and girls during adolescence

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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