Normative values for total body bone mineral content (TBBM) and total body bone mineral density (TBMD) were derived from measurements on 234 children 8–16 years of age. In addition, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) values for selected regions of interest and soft tissue (bone free lean and fat) for the total body are presented. Bone mineral and soft tissue values were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using a Hologic QDR-2000 in the array mode. Results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between bone-free lean tissue (BFLT) and BMD (r² = 0.80) in girls. Adding age to the equation accounted for an additional 2% of the variance (P < 0.05)="" and="" height="" accounted="" for="" another="" 1%="" of="" the="" variance="">P < 0.05).="" body="" weight="" and="" fat="" tissue="" (ft)="" did="" not="" account="" for="" any="" additional="" variance.="" in="" boys="" bflt="" correlated="" significantly="" with="" bmd="">² = 0.75;P < 0.05);="" none="" of="" the="" other="" predictor="" variables="" accounted="" for="" additional="" variance.="" no="" significant="" differences="" were="" found="" in="" tbbm="" or="" tbmd="" between="" boys="" and="" girls="" at="" any="" age.="" there="" was="" a="" significant="" overall="" gender="" effect="" for="" only="" three="" regions="" of="" interest.="" boys="" had="" greater="" bmc="" in="" the="" head="" region="" and="" had="" greater="" bmd="" in="" the="" upper="" limbs,="" but="" post="" hoc="" analysis="" revealed="" no="" significant="" differences="" for="" any="" specific="" age="" groups.="" girls="" had="" greater="" overall="" bmd="" in="" the="" pelvis,="" but="" this="" difference="" was="" only="" significant="" at="" the="" 15–6-year="" age="" group.="" the="" changes="" in="" bflt="" and="" ft="" over="" the="" age="" ranges="" were="" consistent="" with="" the="" growth="">