Anthropometric predictors of body fat as measured by hydrostatic weighing in Guatemalan adults

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2006-04, Vol.83 (4), p.795-802
• Main Authors: RAMIREZ-ZEA, Manuel, TORUN, Benjamin, MARTORELL, Reynaldo, STEIN, Aryeh D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - anatomy & histology; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Anthropometry - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; Body fat; Developing Countries; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Guatemala; Humans; Hydrostatic Pressure; LDCs; Linear Models; Male; Measurement techniques; Middle Aged; Obesity; Predictive Value of Tests; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Rural Population; Sensitivity and Specificity; Urban Population; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/83.4.795

Most predictive equations currently used to assess percentage body fat (%BF) were derived from persons in industrialized Western societies. We developed equations to predict %BF from anthropometric measurements in rural and urban Guatemalan adults. Body density was measured in 123 women and 114 men by using hydrostatic weighing and simultaneous measurement of residual lung volume. Anthropometric measures included weight (in kg), height (in cm), 4 skinfold thicknesses [(STs) in mm], and 6 circumferences (in cm). Sex-specific multiple linear regression models were developed with %BF as the dependent variable and age, residence (rural or urban), and all anthropometric measures as independent variables (the "full" model). A "simplified" model was developed by using age, residence, weight, height, and arm, abdominal, and calf circumferences as independent variables. The preferred full models were %BF = -80.261 - (weight x 0.623) + (height x 0.214) + (tricipital ST x 0.379) + (abdominal ST x 0.202) + (abdominal circumference x 0.940) + (thigh circumference x 0.316); root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.0; and pure error (PE) = 3.4 for men and %BF = -15.471 + (tricipital ST x 0.332) + (subscapular ST x 0.154) + (abdominal ST x 0.119) + (hip circumference x 0.356); RMSE = 2.4; and PE = 2.9 for women. The preferred simplified models were %BF = -48.472 - (weight x 0.257) + (abdominal circumference x 0.989); RMSE = 3.8; and PE = 3.7 for men and %BF = 19.420 + (weight x 0.385) - (height x 0.215) + (abdominal circumference x 0.265); RMSE = 3.5; and PE = 3.5 for women. These equations performed better in this developing-country population than did previously published equations.