Influence of body composition on bone mass in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of body composition on bone mass in children and adolescents. METHODS A cross-sectional study with 267 healthy students of both sexes (141 males and 126 females) aged 8 to 18 years. Weight, height, body mass index, lean mass, fat mass, fat mass index, body fat percentage, waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip ratio were evaluated. Bone mass was assessed using ultrasound of hand phalanges (DBM Sonic BP IGEA, Carpi, Italy). RESULTS Females showed greater bone mass in relation to males with advances in age and pubertal stage. In both sexes, the bone mass showed significant and positive correlations with age, weight, height, body mass index, lean mass, waist and hip circumferences; and negative correlations with waist-to-hip ratio. In females, there was also a positive correlation with fat mass, fat mass index, and body fat percentage. Age and lean mass were predictors for bone mass in males, and age, pubertal stage and fat mass index were predictors in females. CONCLUSION The correlation between bone mass and body composition occurred in both sexes, with lean mass and fat mass index being the predictor of bone mass in males and females, respectively.