Body fat percentiles of Brazilian adolescents according to age and sexual maturation: a cross-sectional study

BMC Pediatrics

Maria Sylvia de Souza Vitalle¹  Mauro Fisberg¹  Maria Aparecida Zanetti Passos¹  Ana Carolina de Sousa Vieira Soares¹  Gerson Luis de Moraes Ferrari²  Isa de Pádua Cintra¹ 

[1] Adolescence Division, Pediatric Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo), Rua Botucatu, 715 Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil;Centro de Estudos do Laboratório de Aptidão Física de São Caetano do Sul (Physical Fitness Research Center of São Caetano do Sul), São Caetano do Sul, Brazil

关键词: Skinfold thickness;    Sexual maturation;    Adiposity;    Adolescents;    Body fat percentiles;   

Others  :  1144761
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2431-13-96

 received in 2013-01-31, accepted in 2013-06-13,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

The objective of this study was to determine body fat percentiles of adolescents in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, according to gender, age, and sexual maturation.

Methods

This study involved 4,690 adolescents aged 10–15 years across 31 schools in the city of São Paulo. Sexual maturation was assessed in terms of Tanner stage. The body fat percentage was calculated using skinfold thickness. Percentile curves were calculated using the LMS (curve, mean, and coefficient of variation) method.

Results

The mean body fat percentages were lower in boys aged 10–12 and 13–15 years than in girls. Body fat percentages decreased progressively with sexual maturation in boys, but increased in girls. The 85th, 95th, and 97th percentiles represent the cutoff points for moderately elevated, elevated, and very elevated body fat percentages, respectively, in pre-pubescent boys (85th, 95th, and 97th percentiles: 32.54, 95 41.04, and 97, respectively) and pubescent boys (31.09, 36.30, and 44.33, respectively). These cutoff points were lower in pre-pubescent girls (29.52, 35.01, and 41.82, respectively) and in the 97th percentile in pubescent girls (31.55, 36.20, and 41.86, respectively).

Conclusion

To our knowledge, these are the first body fat percentages cutoff points according to sexual maturation for adolescents aged 10–15 years in Brazil. Our results provide a significant contribution to the assessment of body composition in this population.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 de Pádua Cintra et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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