title: Comparison of four methods to assess body composition in black and white athletes.
abstract: Four methods of assessing body composition were compared in 55 black and 35 white, Division I, American football players. Percent body fat (%BF) was estimated with hydrostatic weighing at residual volume, corrected for race; seven-site skinfolds (7 SF), corrected for race; bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); and near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIR). Percent body fat with HW in blacks (mean = 14.7%) and whites (19.7%) did not differ (P > .05) from %BF with 7 SF (blacks, 14.7%; whites, 19.0%). In relation to HW, BIA significantly (P < .05) overpredicted (blacks: 20.1%, SEE = 3.2%; whites: 22.3%, SEE = 4.3%) and NIR underpredicted %BF (blacks: 12.6%, SEE = 3.9%; whites: 17.7%, SEE = 3.6%). The contribution of BIA variables (resistance, phase angle, conductance) and NIR optical density to predict %BF was trivial compared to body mass index. It appears that race may not substantially influence %BF prediction by NIR and BIA. It was concluded that when considering the cost and expertise required with NIR and BIA, SF measurements appear to be a superior alternative for rapid and accurate body composition assessment of athletes, independent of race.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hortobágyi
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Houmard
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003720:Densitometry; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013177:Sports; D044465:White People