Skinfold thickness measurements are better predictors of body fat percentage than body mass index in male Spanish children and adolescents

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition 1998-08, Vol.52 (8), p.573-576
• Main Authors: SARRIA, A, GARCIA-LLOP, L. A, MORENO, L. A, FLETA, J, MORELLON, M. P, BUENO, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue; Adolescent; Adolescents; Anthropology. Demography; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body density; Body fat; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body measurements; Body size; Body Weight; Boys; Child; Children; Density; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Male; Males; Mathematical analysis; Medical sciences; Nutrition; Schools; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skinfold Thickness; Spain; Teenagers; Thickness measurement; Underwater; Weighing; Weight
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600606

To develop equations, from some simple anthropometric measurements, for the prediction of body density from underwater weighing in male spanish children and adolescents. One hundred and seventy-five males, aged 7.0-16.9 y, participated in this study, they were recruited from primary and secondary schools. Body weight and height and skinfold thicknesses by anthropometry, body density by underwater weighing. Correlations between body density and body mass index (BMI) were high until 14.0-16.9y. Correlations between body density and log sigma 4 skinfolds were higher than those with BMI at all ages. Log sigma 4 skinfolds explained between 61% (14.0-16.9 y) and 68% (11.0-13.9 y) of the body density variance. Regression equations for body density from BMI and triceps skinfold thickness explained between 51% (14.0-16.9y) and 68% (7.0-10.9 y) of the body density variance. The best estimators of body density in the children and adolescents studied were log sigma 4 skinfolds and a combination of BMI and triceps skinfold.