Nutrition in Clinical Practice Volume XX Number X Month 201X 1 –9 © 2015 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

ncp.sagepub.com hosted at online.sagepub.com Clinical Research The prevalence of obesity has escalated worldwide during recent decades, especially in developed countries.1–3 Moreover, the proportion of the population that is obese or overweight has steeply increased over the past 10 years in developing counties such as China.4 There is significant evidence that adiposity is a precursor to many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers.5–8 In short, obesity results in a heavy burden of disease worldwide. Percent body fat (Bfat%), a hallmark of obesity, is a known risk factor for a range of health problems but is difficult t