title: Comparison of predicted body fat percentage from anthropometric methods and from impedance in university students.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to compare different methods for evaluating body fat percentage (BF%) (anthropometric methods and bioelectrical impedance analysis) in university students. Subjects were 653 healthy students whose mean age, body height, body weight and BMI were 21.1 (SD 2.5) years, 166.0 (SD 8.4) cm, 62.8 (SD 11.0) kg and 22.7 (SD 3.1) kg/m(2), respectively. Results showed that BMI is a poor predictor of body fatness since the sensitivity was low in comparison with the reference method (Siri equation). The lowest values of BF% were obtained using the reference method (Siri equation) (21.8 (SD 6.8)%). The two methods with the highest agreement were Siri and Lean (mean difference, -0.5), followed by Brozek (mean difference, -1.4) and Deurenberg (mean difference, -1.5). The largest mean difference for BF% was between Siri and impedance (-4.5). Although the methods and/or equations used in the present study have been commonly utilised to estimate BF% in young adults, the results must be interpreted with caution in the diagnosis and monitoring of overweight and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. knparizm@vc.ehu.es
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rocandio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ansotegui
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salces
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rebato
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors