title: Estimation of body fat from anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance in Native American children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity, as measured by body mass index, is highly prevalent in Native American children, yet there are no valid equations to estimate total body fatness for this population. This study was designed to develop equations to estimate percentage body fat from anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance as a critical part of Pathways, a multi-site study of primary prevention of obesity in Native American children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage fat was estimated from deuterium oxide dilution in 98 Native American children (Pima/Maricopa, Tohono O'odham and White Mountain Apache tribes) between 8 and 11 y of age. The mean fat content (38.4%+/-8. 1%) was calculated assuming the water content of the fat-free body was 76%. Initial independent variables were height, weight, waist circumference, six skinfolds and whole-body resistance and reactance from bioelectrical impedance (BIA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using all-possible-subsets regressions with the Mallows C (p) criterion, and with age and sex included in each regression model, waist circumference, calf and biceps skinfolds contributed least to the multiple regression analysis. The combination of weight, two skinfolds (any two out of the four best: triceps, suprailiac, subscapular and abdomen) and bioelectrical impedance variables provided excellent predictability. Equations without BIA variables yielded r2 almost as high as those with BIA variables. The recommended equation predicts percentage fat with a root mean square error=3.2% fat and an adjusted r2=0.840.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of anthropometry and BIA variables can be used to estimate total body fat in field studies of Native American children. The derived equation yields considerably higher percentage fat values than other skinfold equations in children.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lohman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Himes
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Houtkooper
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Going
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hunsberger
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D017666:Deuterium Oxide