Abstract
GARCIA, ADA L., KAREN WAGNER, TORSTEN
HOTHORN, CORINNA KOEBNICK, HANS-JOACHIM F.
ZUNFT, AND ULRIKE TRIPPO. Improved prediction of
body fat by measuring skinfold thickness, circumferences, and
bone breadths. Obes Res. 2005;13:626–634.
Objective: To develop improved predictive regression equations
for body fat content derived from common anthropometric
measurements.
Research Methods and Procedures: 117 healthy German
subjects, 46 men and 71 women, 26 to 67 years of age, from
two different studies were assigned to a validation and a
cross-validation group. Common anthropometric measurements
and body composition by DXA were obtained. Equations
using anthropometric measurements predicting body
fat mass (BFM) with DXA as a reference method were
developed using regression models.
Results: The final best predictive sex-specific equations
combining skinfold thicknesses (SF), circumferences, and
bone breadth measurements were as follows: BFMNew (kg)
for men 40.750 {(0.397 waist circumference)
[6.568 (log triceps SF log subscapular SF log
abdominal SF)]} and BFMNew (kg) for women 75.231
{(0.512 hip circumference) [8.889 (log chin SF
log triceps SF log subscapular SF)] (1.905 knee
breadth)}. The estimates of BFM from both validation and
cross-validation had an excellent correlation, showed excellent
correspondence to the DXA estimates, and showed a
negligible tendency to underestimate percent body fat in
subjects with higher BFM compared with equations using a
two-compartment (Durnin and Womersley) or a four-compartment
(Peterson) model as the reference method.
Discussion: Combining skinfold thicknesses with circumference
and/or bone breadth measures provide a more precise
prediction of percent body fat in comparison with
established SF equations. Our equations are recommended
for use in clinical or epidemiological settings in populations
with similar ethnic background.