The body composition of Moscow children and adolescents: evaluation of representativeness of data of bio-impedance examination in health centers
The mass examinations ofpopulation in the health centers can constitute the foundation for health monitoring and physical development of Russian children and adolescents. The objective. To analyze representativeness of data of bio-impedance examination in health centers exemplified by population of children and adolescents of Moscow. Materials and methods. Two groups of children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were examined. The procedure was one-fold and method of bio-impedancemetry was applied in general schools (main group included 1949 individuals) and health centers of Moscow (48 300 children as a control group). Results and discussion. The age-related trends of indicators of body composition, surplus/deficiency of body mass in the examined groups on the whole matched one another well. In the main group a minor shift into direction of surplus body mass was established as compared with control group (median z-values of surplus body mass +0,06 for boys and +0,09 for girls). The expressed intra-group and inter-group differences of relative content offatty and lean mass related to variation of level of physical activity and nutrition status. Conclusion. The bio-impedance examination can be recommended for population screening and monitoring of health of children and adolescents in health centers.