IAEA Human Health Series: Body Composition Assessment from Birth to Two Years of Age
The IAEA (International Atommic Energy Agency) published a study reviewing body composition assessment techniques from birth to 2 years of age.
This publication was developed by an international group of experts as an integral part of the IAEA’s contribution to the transfer of technology and capacity building in this field to assist its Member States in their efforts to improve the nutrition and health of infants and young children, who are among the most vulnerable population groups.
This publication provides practical information on the assessment of body composition from birth up to 2 years of age and is intended for nutritionists, paediatricians and other health professionals.
The study concludes that "The advantages offered by Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP), such as its operator friendliness, high precision, brief measurement time, low cost, low maintenance, low risk, its lack of need for subject compliance and the unlimited possibility of repetition, has enabled it to overtake hydrodensitometry as the primary method for measuring body density. Additionally, the inconvenience of the underwater measurement involved in hydrodensitometry was a significant motivation to replace this technique. ADP is the preferred means for conducting paediatric measurements, as hydrodensitometry cannot be used with infants".
The study details are the following:
- Title: "Body Composition Assessment from Birth to Two Years of Age"
- Reference:IAEA Human Health Series no. 22 (Vienna, 2013)
The study can be downloaded at the following link: click here
