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Review
. 2012 Nov;10(1):130-9.

Body composition analysis in the pediatric population

David R Weber  1 , Mary B Leonard, Babette S Zemel
Affiliations
Review

Body composition analysis in the pediatric population

David R Weber et al. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

Body composition analysis has become a useful tool in both clinical and research settings. Its use in the pediatric population is complicated by the rapid periods of growth and physical development that are characteristic of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. A thorough understanding of the changing nature of body composition during this time is essential for choosing the most appropriate measurement technique for a given individual, population, or clinical question. Growing evidence suggests that tissues such as fat, muscle, and bone are intimately involved in the regulation of whole body energy metabolism. This knowledge, when coupled with advancements in imaging techniques such as MRI and PET-CT, offers the possibility of developing new models of "functional" body composition. These models may prove to be especially important when assessing malnutrition and metabolic risk in patients with chronic disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure

The authors in this article declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Body composition differences between males and females are present at all ages, but pronounced differences emerge in adolescence with greater lean body mass in males and greater fat mass in females
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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