Komei Hattori

Assessment of body composition by using a new chart method.

The body mass index (BMI, weight/height2), is commonly used as a simple and valid way of assessing body composition. However, the significance of the BMI is not clear, since body mass is composed of two main components: fat‐free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), each with different densities.

Determination of body volume in normal adults and in patients with cerebral palsy by the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) dilution technique

This study sought to establish body volume measurement by the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) dilution technique and to assess the body composition of healthy subjects and patients with the complications of cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Sixty‐six healthy males and females ranging in age from 18 to 41 years and 10 patients with the complications ranging in age from 23 to 34 years participated in the study. The SF6 dilution method determines absolute body volumes by measuring the SF6 concentration inside a closed chamber containing the subjects. No detectable deviations were indicated between the body volume measured by SF6 and the volume determined by underwater weighing (r = 0.999). Body volume for patients with complications was also successfully assessed by the SF6 technique. All 10 subjects were short, but body composition measures were within normal ranges except for two obese females. Inactivity was suggested as a relevant factor for the excess adiposity. Thus, this new method of measuring body volume offers promising possibilities for future research in body composition, especially for application in clinical practice.

Body proportion chart for evaluating changes in stature, sitting height and leg length in children and adolescents

Background: Studies by longitudinal sample to evaluate trends in stature, sitting height, leg length and body proportions together in Japanese children are scarce. Aim: Trends in stature, sitting height, leg length and LUR (lower segment and upper segment ratio) were evaluated with a graphical method (Body Proportion Chart). Subjects and methods: Longitudinal data for 520 boys and 306 girls who had 12 consecutive yearly measurements from 6.5–17.5 years of age were used. Results: Estimated growth rates of leg length were greater than those of sitting height in pre-adolescence in both sexes. Leg length was slightly longer in girls than in boys for a short period early in adolescence, but sitting height in girls exceeded that in boys for a longer period. LUR attained peak values between 12.5–13.5 years in girls (LUR = 85.7) and between 13.5–14.5 years in boys (LUR = 89.2). After attaining maximum LUR, leg length was stable, although sitting height continued to increase slightly in both sexes. Conclusion: The results highlight the usefulness of the Body Proportion Chart method for identifying changes in body proportions during adolescence.