Conclusion
We highlighted independence observed between biochemical parameters, anthropometry, body composition and sexual maturation. BP may support the calculation of scores for diagnosis of obesity based on anthropometric variables and overcome ambiguity in the isolated use of BMI.
Objective
Our study aimed to describe body phenotypes (BP) estimated by multivariate analysis and their association with body mass. Design: BP were defined based on demographic variables, anthropometric data (body mass, height, skinfolds and circumferences), body composition (phase angle measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis), biochemical parameters (TAG, glucose, total cholesterol ratio/LDL, Hb and sexual maturation (pubic hair and breasts or gonads). ANOVA was performed to verify the differences between skin colour and the stages of pubertal development, BP, body composition, anthropometric and biochemical variables. Setting: Cities of São Paulo-SP, Piracicaba-SP and Florianópolis-SC from Brazil and the United States. Participants: 9269 adolescents aged between 10 and 15 years old.
Results
The composition of BP was similar in all surveys, which are: BP1 was composed by skinfolds, body mass and circumferences variables; BP2 by pubic hair, breast in girls or gonad in boys, height and age; BP3 by cholesterol, TAG and glucose; and BP4 by phase angle, Hb and glucose (negative loading). There was a strong correlation (r = 0·9, P < 0·001) between BP1 and BMI.