Bioelectrical Vector Analysis in Obese Adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hydration of obese and non-obese adolescents by vectorial bioimpedance analysis, in addition to verifying the associations between obesity and bioelectrical impedance vectorial analysis (BIVA) parameters. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with adolescents between 14 and 18 years old (n=489, 300 boys and 189 girls). Electric bioimpedance (BIA; Quantum_II, RJL system, Rome, Italy) provided resistance and reactance parameters to calculate phase angle (PA), fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (%BF). The confidence ellipses were compared, and the construction of the tolerance ellipses allowed individual and qualitative evaluation of the vectors and classification in dehydrated, normohydrated and hyperhydrated. RESULTS: 78 obese and 411 eutrophic adolescents participated. Resistance (p<0.001) and reactance (p<0.001) and their normalization by stature (p<0.001) were reduced in the obese, whereas the PA was higher (p=0.003). %BF was 11.3% higher in obese adolescents. The main vector of the obese, both male (D=1.38; p<0.001) and female (D=1.49; p<0.001), indicated greater hydration. The ellipse of tolerance of the total sample showed that 25 (32.1%) were hyperhydrated and 02 (2.6%) vectors positioned in the sense of dehydration. A total of 17 (53.2%) girls and 16 (34.8%) boys were hyperhydrated. Logistic regression showed an inverse relation of BMI with resistance (p<0.001), reactance (p<0.001) and both normalized by stature. Adolescents with increased PA (p<0.001) were twice as likely to present obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Obese adolescents were hyperhydrated and there was an inverse relationship of BMI with resistance and direct with PA.