Abstract

PINTO, Elisabete; OLIVEIRA, Ana Raquel; ALENCASTRE, Helena  and  LOPES, Carla. Body composition assessment in children with non invasive methods. Arq Med [online]. 2005, vol.19, n.1-2, pp.47-54. ISSN 2183-2447.

Infancy is a period of fast development and growth, characterized by great changes, particularly of body composition. Its relation with the nutritional and health status makes its evaluation extremly important in this period of life. Actually, there is a wide variety of body composition assessment methods based on different body composition models and principles. Different methods can characterize body composition in a global and undifferentiated way, or in specific differentiating corporal components. Body composition can be evaluated by simple methods, such as traditional anthropometry or involving more sophisticated measurements, such as bioelectrical impedance analysis or magnetic resonance imaging. In these review different methods of body composition assessment and their relevance when used in children are critically revised.

Keywords : infancy; body composition; anthropometry; magnetic resonance imaging; bioelectrical impedance analysis; plethysmography; dual energy X ray absorptiometry; total body electric conductivity.

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