Article

This study assessed the accuracy of measurements of body fat percentage in
ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) from bioelectrical impedance
analysis (BIA) and skinfold equations. METHOD: One hundred and twenty-eight
individuals (65 males, 63 females; mean age 12y, SD 3, range 6-18y) with CP
(Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I (n=6), II (n=46),
and III (n=19) participated. Body fat percentage was estimated from (1) BIA using
standing height and estimated heights (knee height and tibial length) and (2)
triceps and subscapular skinfolds using standard and CP-specific equations. All
estimates of body fat percentage were compared with body fat percentage from
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Differences between DXA, BIA, and
skinfold body fat percentage were analyzed by comparing mean differences.
Agreement was assessed by Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation
coefficients (CCC). RESULTS: BMI was moderately correlated with DXA (Pearson's
r=0.53). BIA body fat percentage was significantly different from DXA when using
estimated heights (95% confidence intervals [CIs] do not contain 0) but not
standing height (95% CI -1.9 to 0.4). CCCs for all BIA comparisons indicated good
to excellent agreement (0.75-0.82) with DXA. Body fat percentage from skinfold
measurements and CP-specific equations was not significantly different from DXA
(mean 0.8%; SD 5.3%; 95% CI -0.2 to 1.7) and demonstrated strong agreement with
DXA (CCC 0.86). INTERPRETATION: Accurate measures of body fat percentage can be
obtained using BIA and two skinfold measurements (CP-specific equations) in
ambulatory individuals with CP. These findings should encourage assessments of
body fat in clinical and research practices.
CI - (c) 2013 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS