Bone mineral density (BMD) is related to body mass index (BMI) in school children presenting overweight or obesity

The quantitative interrelationships between BMD and BMI were studied in 215 children, 6 to 9 Y old, attending public schools of Vicente Lopez (Great Buenos Aires). Weight and height were measured and NCHS tables were used for BMI classification as normal (N: n=173 ), overweight (OW: n=26) or obese (O: n=16) groups. BMD was assessed by ultrasound of calcaneus (Sahara-Olohi, EE UU) and expressed as sound attenuation (QUI). Ca status was estimated according the Ca to creatinine ratio (Ca/C) in basal urine samples. Analysis were performed by using mean values of QUI vs ranges of Ca/C for each group according anthropometrics (ANOVA) and by an individual non parametric correlation (Spearman’s Rho coefficient). Results show that although there was no difference in Ca/C among groups (p=0,95) BMD was reduced when comparing N groups to OW or O (QUI= 94, 87 y 85 respectively) (p<0,02). The correlation between QUI and Ca/C was not significant neither for N nor for OW whereas O showed a negative slope (−0,090) (p<0,05...