05.2021
Author Prof. J. Spranger, University Department of Pediatrics Mainz

A bioelectrical impedance analysis is used to measure body fat, body water, muscle mass and other body compartments. Because of the known correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes, this method was used to determine the relative body fat content of 1383 healthy adolescents aged 10 to 15 years and put it into context with their morning insulin levels [1]. A highly significant correlation was found between these values: the more fat, the more insulin. There was a similarly high correlation between fat content, fasting blood sugar levels, blood pressure and abdominal circumference. It should be pointed out that the latter can reliably replace the more sophisticated bioelectrical impedance analysis [2].