Age and Gender related changes in Body Composition in Pre-adolescents.

Background: The present study was initiated with the main objective to assess the changes of body composition as related to age, gender during pre-adolescence (9-12 years). Methods: The study was conducted on 450 pre-adolescents of 9-12 years. Results: Skin-fold thickness was higher in girls than boys indicating higher fat content in girls. Age and gender related differences in body composition indicated that body stat 1500 analyser (BSA) fat mass (% and kg) decreased with an increase in age whereas it was decreased when derived from skin-fold thickness (SFT) in both the genders. BSA and SFT fat free mass (% and kg) increased with an increase in age significantly in boys and girls. Mean fat free mass (% and kg) and water (% and kg) were significantly higher in boys than girls. The mean fat (% and kg) was significantly higher in girls than boys. Body composition as related to weight indicated that the lean body mass was significantly higher in the subjects who had maximum weight than the subjects with minimum weight. BSA fat mass and fat free mass were significantly differed from SFT fat mass and SFT fat free mass indicating BSA was not suitable to assess body composition during pre-adolescence (9-12 years). Conclusions: Significant age related and gender related differences in body composition exist in the pre-adolescent period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]