The body composition of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and residual pulmonary regurgitation (PR) was compared to that of healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Testing included height, weight, skinfolds, skeletal widths, circumferences, bio-electrical impedance (for estimation of total body water from resistance index), hydrostatic weighing, bone mineral content from single photon absorptiometry, and an assessment of maturational status. Activity levels were assessed by questionnaires and an accelerometer. The two groups were found to be different in height, skeletal widths, bone mineral content, bone mineral index and total body water determined by bio-electrical impedance. After adjusting the data for height differences, the groups were different for skeletal widths and bone mineral index. The PR and control subjects had similar skinfolds and circumferences, as well as percent fat determined by body density, body water and bone mineral content.

The determination of adiposity in adolescents is often assessed with calculations of body mass indices (BMI). Researchers often obtain these measurements from self-reported (SR) values. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of SR height, weight, and calculated BMI (from height and weight). SR and actual measured (ME) BMI values were compared with standards from the FITNESSGRAM® Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) classifications. SR height and calculated BMI were found to be accurate while SR weight was, on average, underreported by 4.77 lbs. Because of these errors in SR height and weight, accuracy of classification into the FITNESSGRAM® HFZ was compromised. Consequently, it is important that researchers ascertain actual values of height and weight when measuring adolescents rather than use those from self-reports.