Pediatric reference charts of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition measures
Authors' conclusion
We created age-based reference charts and height-based distribution charts for DXA-derived body composition measures for a Europe-based, diverse pediatric population. These charts can be useful for European populations and clinical studies.
Study context
- Population
- Singleton-born children in Rotterdam with DXA data from one or more visits between 5 and 20 years; diverse population
- Participants
- 6,102 children
- Outcome
- Age-based reference charts and height-based distribution charts for DXA-derived body composition measures (TBLH-BMD, TBLH-BMC, FM%, FMI, LST%, LMI, appendicular LMI (ALMI))
- Follow-up
- Ages 5-20 years
Methodological detailsreference charts by General Additive Modeling, inverse probability weighting
- Reference charts by General Additive Modeling
- Inverse probability weighting
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
DXA body composition reference charts · 5 to 20 years
- Sex differences most pronounced for fat and lean soft tissue mass
- Girls had higher and increasing median FMI; relatively stable in boys from 5 to 20 years
- Median LST% increased in girls only between ages 10-14 years; in boys the increase was higher and continued from 10 to 18 years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Ethnic differences vs children of European descent
- Higher FMI and differences in LMI in children of Cape Verdean, Dutch Antillean, Moroccan, Surinamese-Hindustani and Turkish descent
Comparison with North American and Swiss cohorts
- Bone mineral density (BMD) centiles similar; FMI and LMI average reference values lower
DXA data at ≥3 time-points
- Proportion of study sample
- 60.5%
Original publication
Pediatric reference charts of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition measures. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 5 January 2026. doi:10.
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