title: Circumference-estimated percent body fat vs. weight-height indices: relationships to physical fitness.
abstract: This study examined whether percent body fat estimated from a simple circumference technique was more strongly associated with physical fitness than commonly used weight-height indices. Participants included 5,710 Navy men and 477 Navy women. Physical fitness measures included a 1.5-mile run, sit-ups test, sit-reach flexibility test, and an average fitness score. Circumference-estimated percent body fat was more strongly correlated with physical fitness than were any of the weight-height indices. Although the overall pattern of associations was similar for men and women, correlations were stronger for men. Circumference-estimated percent body fat may be more strongly associated with physical fitness because it assesses actual body fat more reliably than weight-height indices.
authors.affiliation: Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA 92138-9174.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cronan
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001824:Body Constitution; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States