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Hattori Chart Based Evaluation of Body Composition and its Relation to Body Mass Index in a Group of Sri Lankan Children

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the relationship between fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), body mass index (BMI) and percentage fat mass (%FM) using Hattori chart in a group of Sri Lankan children.

Methods

In this cross sectional descriptive study involving 5–15 y old children, data from 4 different school surveys were pooled together. Height and weight were measured and BMI calculated. Total body water (TBW) was assessed using a height and weight based equation. Thus FFM and FM were assessed based on 2 C body composition model. Fat mass index (FMI) and Fat free mass index (FFMI) were calculated and plotted on Hattori chart.

Results

4278 individuals (1297 boys and 2981 girls) were studied. Individual values clearly showed that Sri Lankan children had a low FFMI and a high FMI. Individuals with similar BMI had their %FM distributed in a wide range. Even children categorized as wasted had high levels of %FM in their body. Mean FMI and FFMI for each age was plotted, and it showed that most of the weight gain is due to accumulation of fat in the body.

Conclusions

This study shows that Sri Lankan children have a higher %FM from a younger age even when they are classified as wasted. As they grow older, the changes that occur in FM are more than FFM. This chart analysis clearly shows that BMI is not a good index to measure %FM in individuals of this population.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to all subjects and their parents for participating in this study.

Samanmali Sumanasena; N Atapattu; G Sathyadas; S Kuruparanantha; Karunarathne; TUN De Silva; HH Patabenda; ANK De Silva; DMPS Bandara; M Abeysekera; S Kuruppu; HTP Dilshan and B Dissanayake for providing the assistance in collecting the data at different points of the research projects.

Conflict of Interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    V. P. Wickramasinghe

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  1. V. P. Wickramasinghe
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Correspondence to V. P. Wickramasinghe.

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Wickramasinghe, V.P. Hattori Chart Based Evaluation of Body Composition and its Relation to Body Mass Index in a Group of Sri Lankan Children. Indian J Pediatr 79, 632–639 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0615-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0615-6

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