I am using Tinita body composition analyzer for my study. The devices can't be used for the children under 15 years of age. I don't want to go for a manual method.
The following papers validated bioimpedance against DXA in typically developing children. You may check the reference of the analysers used and validated in these papers:
Gutin B, Litaker M, Islam S, Manos T, Smith C, Treiber F.
Body-composition measurement in 9–11-year-old children by
Kubo et al. used a Tanita MC-190 for analyzing body composition of children between 6 an 11:
Kubo T et al. (2010): Evaluation of partial body composition using bioelectrical impedance in Japanese children. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2010;19 (4):594-601
The choice will depend on your budget and the amount of samples you need to measure and the required accuracy/precision. (As usual :P)
If your budget is low and you require low accuracy I would suggest BIA/DEXA/skin fold
If you have bigger budget and require more accuracy I would go for isotope dilution (perhaps combine with DLW) or underwater weighing (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~ens304l/uww.htm) , the latter is the gold standard for body composition measurements. Stable isotope dilution method (both 2H and 18O) will give you an estimate of total body water. By knowing the hydration factor of lean body mass, (around 0.73) you can calculate the rest of the components (i.e. fat mass and lean body mass).
We are working with the "Data-Input GmbH( Darmstadt, Germany)" and we are using the program " Nutri Plus" . It is well evalueted with thousends of people and you can use it from 3 years up to any age.
It is working with BIA and BIVA interpretation ( percentiles) and it is very easy to handle and to learn.
For more information you should contact the Data input company in Germany.
Sorry for my bad english and I hope I could help yoe
As others have mentioned, there are various techniques available that have published regression equations specifically for children. The usefulness of these depends on the research that went into developing the equations in the first place...look for evidence that the manufacturer has utilized sound scientific principles in the development of their equations. There are equations available for estimating %fat from skinfolds (e.g.Slaughter MH, Lohman TG, Boileau RA, Horswill CA, Stillman RJ, Van Loan MD, Bemben DA. 1988. Skinfold equations for estimation of body fatness in children and youth. Hum Biol 60:709–723.). There are also techniques available to adjust body density measures obtained from densitometric techniques to in part, account for different levels of chemical maturity. (adjustments to FFBdensity based on height for example).
In addition to preceding comments, be very aware of the 95% limits of agreement for your choice of method. While many studies reports no methodological difference between group means, the individual variation can be enormous for children. Much of the individual variation has to do with the physical maturity level of the child, their activity level, and race/ethnicity. Also, see if you can find a method that has been validated (and independently cross-validated) against a multiple component reference method. Heyward and Wagner (2004) provide a good explanation of the issues assessing body comp of children as well as validation/cross-validation statistics. That may help guide your search. Whatever it is you select, stick with it if yours is a longitudinal evaluation of these individuals.