Total body water by BIA in children and young adults with normal and excessive weight

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 8;15(10):e0239212. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239212. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Background: Estimation of total body water (TBW) is essential for clinical care.

Objective: Evaluation of changes in TBW by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in children and young adults with excessive weight.

Design: Data was collected in individuals aged 3-21 years with normal (n = 202) or excessive body weight (n = 133). The BIA results from individuals with normal weight were compared with two previously published studies in children by isotope dilution methods.

Results: Individuals with excessive weight had a higher mean TBW (27.87 L, SE 0.368) for height and age as compared to individuals with normal weight (23.95 L, SE 0.298), P<0.001. However, individuals with excessive weight had lower mean TBW (24.93 L, SE 0.37) for weight and body surface area (BSA) as compared to individuals with normal weight (26.94 L, SE 0.287), P<0.001. Comparison with two previously published studies showed no significant differences in mean TBW with one ((p = 1.00) but a significant difference with another study (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Individuals with excessive weight had 16.5% higher mean TBW for height and age and 7.4% lower TBW for weight and BSA as compared to normal weight individuals. Our study validates the feasibility of data collection in pediatric outpatient setting by BIA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Surface Area
  • Body Water / chemistry*
  • Body Weight*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electric Impedance
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

Tej Mattoo, MD Grant # R2-2017-28 Tej Mattoo, MD Children's Foundation https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.