title: Prediction of percentage body fat from anthropometric measurements: comparison of New Zealand European and Polynesian young women.
abstract: The prediction of total body fat from simple anthropometric measurements was examined in 42 white (New Zealand European and 40 Polynesian women aged 18-27 y. Percentage body fat (%BF) was determined from measurements of total body water (TBW) by 18O dilution. Mean (+/- SD) body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) averaged 29.2 +/- 7.9 (range: 16.5-48.0) for the New Zealand European group and 31.2 +/- 7.9 (range: 19.8-51.8) for the Polynesian group, %BF calculated from TBW was similar in the two groups (40.5 +/- 9.9% for the New Zealand European compared with 39.1 +/- 7.5% for the Polynesian group). BMI was significantly correlated with height in the Polynesian group but not in the New Zealand European group. The relation between BMI and %BF was curvilinear for both groups. At a fixed %BF, BMI was higher in the Polynesian group than in the New Zealand European group. A BMI of 30 for the New Zealand European group corresponded to a BMI of 34 for the Polynesian group at an equivalent %BF (42%). Prediction equations for %BF developed from skinfold thicknesses or girth measurements were ethnicity dependent. We conclude that the BMI criterion for obesity in whites requires revision for use in Polynesians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science, Auckland Institute of Technology, New Zealand. elaine.rush@ait.ac.nz
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Laulu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001834:Body Water; D005006:Ethnicity; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011114:Polynesia; D012885:Skinfold Thickness