Table 3

GRADE quality of evidence

OutcomesRisk of biasInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionPublication biasQuality of evidence
BWNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousSerious*None⊕⊕⊕◯ Moderate
BMINot seriousNot seriousNot seriousVery serious*†None⊕⊕◯ Low
PBFNot seriousVery serious‡Not seriousVery serious*†None⊕◯◯◯ Very low
LMNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousVery serious*†None⊕⊕◯ Low
FMNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousVery serious*†None⊕⊕◯ Low
WHRNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousVery serious*†None⊕⊕◯ Low
WCNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousSerious*None⊕⊕⊕◯ Moderate
HCNot seriousNot seriousNot seriousVery serious*†None⊕⊕◯ Low

  • *Small sample sizes in the included studies.

  • †95% CI crossing equivalence thresholds.

  • ‡High heterogeneity.

  • BMI, body mass index; BW, body weight; FM, fat mass; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; HC, hip circumference; LM, lean mass; PBF, percent body fat; WC, waist circumference; WHR, waist-hip ratio.