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Body composition in children based on anthropometric data

A presentation of normal values

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Abstract

Knowledge of the body composition in terms of fat and fatfree mass is used in paediatrics to estimate a child's nutritional status. To obtain the fat content or protein content sophisticated techniques exist. These techniques are often difficult to apply in daily practice. An anthropometric approach is therefore relevant because of its simplicity. In this study skinfold thicknesses and midupperarm circumference are presented as reference values and used to derive the fat-free mass fraction of the body and the arm muscle area.

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Abbreviations

MUAC :

mid upperarm circumference

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Gerver, W.J.M., de Bruin, R. Body composition in children based on anthropometric data. Eur J Pediatr 155, 870–876 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282836

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282836

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