Abstract

Measuring body composition in children is important due to the rise of childhood obesity and changes that occur during pre-pubertal years. Sarcopenia, defined as a muscle mass loss and function, is increasingly recognized in pediatric populations, particularly in childhood obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to have measurements which not only provide an overall picture of body composition, but that can distinguish between muscle and fat mass. Methods of body composition such as Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) provide accurate assessments of body composition, but they are resource-intensive and impractical for routine monitoring in clinical or community settings. To address this, handgrip strength (HGS) may be used for assessing muscle mass. This study investigates the association between muscle mass and HGS in children, utilizing a sample of 110 participants aged 6 to 10 years. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), DEXA scan, and HGS assessments were conducted to evaluate body composition and muscle mass. Results indicate a significant correlation between HGS and fat-free mass index (FFMI) (p=< 0.001) among children aged 6 to 10 years and lean body mass index (LBMI) (p=0.005) in children aged 8 to 10 years old. Moreover, the best predictors of FFMI and LBMI among all the measurements performed were HGS along with BMI (p=<0.0001). Therefore, HGS emerges as a robust predictor of muscle mass, with implications for diagnosing sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. Integrating HGS assessment into routine clinical practice could enhance pediatric care, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of muscle health in this population.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science

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