A correct diagnosis of obesity requires estimating body composition since it is linked to excess fat. Therefore it is necessary to have practical and sensitive methods of measurement. The aim of this study was to develop and validate bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and anthropometric equations to estimate fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). Anthropometric measurements, BIA and deuterium dilution technique as the reference standard were performed in 191 children (4-6 years). Two equations were developed using multiple regression models and were validated in a subsample. Bland and Altman was applied to evaluate the bias differences between the means of both methods. The BIA equation was FFM (kg)= 2,089 + (0,346 * Height² / Resistance) + (0,312 * Weight) + (0,660 * Sex); with R²= 0.92, SRMSE 0,67 kg, bias 0,140 kg and precision 0,73 kg. The anthropometric equation was FM (kg)= 0.841 + (0,408 * Weight) + (0,137 * Subscapular- Skinfolds-Thickness) + (0,104 * Tricipital-Skinfolds-Thickness) - (0,764 * Sex) - (0,054 * Height); with R²= 0.89, SRMSE 0,68 kg, bias -0,01 kg and precision 0,76 kg. The equations validated had a good predictive capacity and can be especially useful in epidemiological studies. Key words: Body composition, childhood obesity, anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, prediction equations.