There is limited information on the accuracy of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for estimating body composition in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BIA measurements for estimating fat mass and fat-free mass in 94 Chinese boys and girls aged 11-17 years. Percent fat (%fatskf) and fat-free mass (FFMskf) were predicted by regression of skinfolds in an equation which is founded on a multicomponent model of body composition in children. Multiple-regression analyses were applied to the data to determine if height2 divided by resistance (resistance index) (RI) could accurately predict FFMskf and %fat. Correlations (R) and predictive accuracy (standard error of the estimate, S.E.E.) for FFMskf for RI alone were 0.94 and 2.7 kg; for RI and body mass this improved to 0.96 and 2.2 kg, and for estimation of %fatskf from RI and body mass these values were 0.78 and 4.7%, respectively. A previously published prediction equation, developed on Caucasian children and which also used RI and body mass, was also cross-validated with the Chinese sample in this study. There was no difference between the predicted values from this equation and FFM and %fat predicted by the skinfold technique. The correlation coefficient for FFM was 0.96 and the S.E.E. was similar to that originally reported for the Caucasian sample. We conclude that BIA is a reliable and acceptably accurate method of estimating anthropometrically determined body composition in Chinese youth.