Introduction: The bioelectrical impedance (BIA) has been widely used for monitoring body composition of individuals of different ages and nutritional statuses. However, it is unknown which of the equations for children and adolescents is the most recommended to be used for adolescents who are overweight. Objective: To assess the agreement of the BIA method using three different equations with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for analysis of body composition in overweight and obesity. Methods: Twenty-seven female adolescents with overweight or obesity were included in this study. The percentage of body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were evaluated by DXA and BIA using the equations proposed by Houtkooper, Schaefer and Deurenberg. Oneway ANOVA, Bland-Altman plots and the intraclass correlation coefficient were used for comparison and verification of the agreement among the methods. Results: BIA using the equation proposed by Houtkooper was the only one that showed no statistically significant difference in the estimating %BF, FM and FFM compared to DXA and showed good agreement with DXA in estimating %BF (-1.9±3.29), FM (1.5±2.59) and FFM (1.4±2.60) and good reproducibility for %BF (0.81), FM (0.96) and FFM (0.89). The Schaefer and Deurenberg equations showed less agreement with DXA, overestimating the MG and underestimating the FFM, and presented moderate to low reproducibility in most measures of body composition. Conclusion: When we compared the three equations proposed to BIA with DXA, we find that the Houtkooper equation was the best agreed with DXA and showed good reproducibility for estimate %BF, FM and FFM in female adolescents with overweight and obesity. © 2015, Redprint Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.214266270Livingstone, B., Epidemiology of childhood obesity in Europe (2000) Eur J Pediatr, 159, pp. S14-S34Oliveira, C.L., Fisberg, M., Obesidade na infância e adolescência: Uma verdadeira epidemia (2003) Arq Bras Endrocrinol Metab, 47, pp. 107-108Kiess, W., Galler, A., Reich, A., Müller, G., Kapellen, T., Deutscher, J., Clinical aspects of obesity in childhood and adolescence (2001) Obes Rev, 2 (1), pp. 29-36Watts, K., Jones, T.W., Davis, E.A., Green, D., Exercise training in obese children and adolescents: Current concepts (2005) Sports Med, 35 (5), pp. 375-392Sant’Anna, M., Priore, S.E., Franceschini, S., Métodos de avaliação da composição corporal em crianças (2009) Rev Paul Pediatr, 27 (3), pp. 315-321Talma, H., Chinapaw, M.J., Bakker, B., Hirasing, R.A., Terwee, C.B., Altenburg, T.M., Bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate body composition in children and adolescents: A systematic review and evidence appraisal of validity, responsiveness, reliability and measurement error (2013) Obes Rev, 14 (11), pp. 895-905Eisenkölbl, J., Kartasurya, M., Widhalm, K., Underestimation of percentage fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis compared to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry method in obese children (2001) Eur J Clin Nutr, 55 (6), pp. 423-429Lazzer, S., Bedogni, G., Agosti, F., De Col, A., Mornati, D., Sartorio, A., Comparison of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance analysis for the assessment of body composition in severely obese Caucasian children and adolescents (2008) Br J Nutr, 100 (4), pp. 918-924Cleary, J., Daniells, S., Okely, A.D., Batterham, M., Nicholls, J., Predictive validity of four bioelectrical impedance equations in determining percent fat mass in overweight and obese children (2008) J am Diet Assoc, 108 (1), pp. 136-139Schaefer, F., Georgi, M., Zieger, A., Schärer, K., Usefulness of bioelectric impedance and skinfold measurements in predicting fat-free mass derived from total body potassium in children (1994) Pediatr Res, 35 (5), pp. 617-624De Onis, M., Onyango, A.W., Borghi, E., Siyam, A., Nishida, C., Siekmann, J., Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents (2007) Bull World Health Organ, 85 (9), pp. 660-667Tanner, J.M., Normal growth and techniques of growth assessment (1986) Clin Endocrinol Metab, 15 (3), pp. 411-451Houtkooper, L.B., Going, S.B., Lohman, T.G., Roche, A.F., Van Loan, M., Bioelectrical impedance estimation of fatfree body mass in children and youth: A cross-validation study (1992) J Appl Physiol (1985), 72 (1), pp. 366-373Deurenberg, P., Van Der Kooy, K., Leenen, R., Weststrate, J.A., Seidell, J.C., Sex and age specific prediction formulas for estimating body composition from bioelectrical impedance: a cross-validation study (1991) Int J Obes, 15 (1), pp. 17-25