Analysis of body composition by age group using DXA un a Colombian cohort (2018 – 2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v85.118933Keywords:
Adipose tissue, age groups, body composition, bone density, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, X ray absorptiometryAbstract
Introduction: body composition is key to assessing nutritional status and varies throughout the life course. Fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) are influenced by age, allowing for the identification of health risks.
Objective: to analyze changes in body composition using DXA in a cohort evaluated between 2018-2025, considering variations according to age groups defined by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection for the Colombian population and by ten-year age ranges.
Methodology: an observational, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted using records from the Center for Advanced Studies at CES University in Medellín, including 598 individuals aged 10 to 78 years. The variables were analyzed by age group and by decade using the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare age groups and the chi-square test to estimate differences.
Results: significant differences were observed in all variables. With aging, BMI, total fat mass, visceral fat, and the android/gynoid ratio increased, while lean mass, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density decreased. Aging may attenuate differences in body composition between the sexes.
Discussion: the findings are consistent with evidence describing a redistribution of body composition associated with aging, characterized by muscle loss and bone mass and an increase in adiposity, thereby increasing functional and metabolic risk. The visceral fat increase and the androide/gynoide ratio indicate a redistribution of adipose tissue influenced by hormonal factors.
Conclusions: the study demonstrates progressive deterioration in body composition with age, highlighting the importance of promoting preventive and screening strategies to improve quality of life.
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