Body composition in growth hormone-deficient adults.

Body composition in a group of growth hormone (GH)-deficient adults was compared with a control group matched for age, sex, body height, body weight, and body mass index by using bioelectrical impedance and deuterium oxide-dilution methods and hydrodensitometry. The body-fat percentages of GH-deficient adults were higher despite comparable weight, height, age, and body mass index. Body impedance was higher in the GH-deficient adults after correction for differences in height and fat-free mass. As a consequence, prediction formulas for body composition from body impedance developed in normal subjects cannot be applied to GH-deficient subjects. The higher body impedance in the GH-deficient subjects can be ascribed to a smaller amount of extracellular water in these subjects than in control subjects.