Body Composition as Related to Age and Gender in Preadolescents (9-12 Years)

Background

The present study was initiated with the main objective to assess the changes of body composition as related to age, gender and nutritional status during pre-adolescence (9- 12 years).

Methods

The study was conducted on 450 pre-adolescents of 9-12 years.

Results

Height, weight, BMI and skin-fold thickness increased with an increase in age indicating growth and developments but no significant difference was seen in height and weight between gender during pre-adolescence. Skinfold thickness was higher in girls than boys indicating higher fat content in girls. Nutritional status of subjects indicated that the majority of the subjects were nearer to NCHS standards indicating normal linear growth. According to BMI and weight for age classification, majority of the subjects were graded under severe chronic energy deficiency, normal and mild malnutrition group respectively. Age and gender related differences in body composition indicated that body stat 1500 analyser (BSA) fat mass (% and kg) decreased with an increase in age whereas it was decreased when derived from skinfold thickness (SFT) in both the genders. BSA and SFT fat free mass (% and kg) increased with an increase in age significantly in boys and girls. Mean fat free mass (% and kg) and water (% and kg) were significantly higher in boys than girls. The mean fat (% and kg) was significantly higher in girls than boys. Body composition as related to weight indicated that the lean body mass was significantly higher in the subjects who had maximum weight than the subjects with minimum weight. BSA fat mass and fat free mass were significantly differed from SFT fat mass and SFT fat free mass indicating BSA was not suitable to assess body composition during pre-adolescence (9-12 years).

Conclusions

Significant age related and gender related differences in body composition exist in the pre-adolescent period.