Which anthropometric measure is best for assessing body composition in children?

• A. Body fat percentage measured by skinfolds
• B. Weight-for-age percentile
• C. Height-for-age percentile
• D. BMI percentile for age and sex

Answer: (D)

In children, how their body stores fat changes with age, growth spurts, and development, so you need a measure that accounts for both age and sex. BMI percentile for age and sex does just that by relating weight to height and comparing the result to standardized reference groups of the same age and sex. This makes it a practical and widely used screening tool to identify children who may have excess adiposity or be underweight.

Weight-for-age alone doesn’t consider height, so a tall, lean child could appear under or overweight, and a short child could be misclassified. Height-for-age indicates stunting or impaired growth rather than body fat. Skinfolds provide a direct estimate of body fat, but they require proper technique, can be variable in children, and are less practical for routine screening.

Therefore, BMI percentile for age and sex is the best single indicator among these options for assessing body composition in the pediatric population because it adjusts for normal growth patterns and offers a consistent reference across ages and genders.