Anthropometric predictors of body fat as measured by hydrostatic weighing in Guatemalan adults.
BACKGROUND
Most predictive equations currently used to assess percentage body fat (%BF) were derived from persons in industrialized Western societies.


OBJECTIVE
We developed equations to predict %BF from anthropometric measurements in rural and urban Guatemalan adults.


METHODS
Body density was measured in 123 women and 114 men by using hydrostatic weighing and simultaneous measurement of residual lung volume. Anthropometric measures included weight (in kg), height (in cm), 4 skinfold thicknesses [(STs) in mm], and 6 circumferences (in cm). Sex-specific multiple linear regression models were developed with %BF as the dependent variable and age, residence (rural or urban), and all anthropometric measures as independent variables (the "full" model). A "simplified" model was developed by using age, residence, weight, height, and arm, abdominal, and calf circumferences as independent variables.


RESULTS
The preferred full models were %BF = -80.261 - (weight x 0.623) + (height x 0.214) + (tricipital ST x 0.379) + (abdominal ST x 0.202) + (abdominal circumference x 0.940) + (thigh circumference x 0.316); root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.0; and pure error (PE) = 3.4 for men and %BF = -15.471 + (tricipital ST x 0.332) + (subscapular ST x 0.154) + (abdominal ST x 0.119) + (hip circumference x 0.356); RMSE = 2.4; and PE = 2.9 for women. The preferred simplified models were %BF = -48.472 - (weight x 0.257) + (abdominal circumference x 0.989); RMSE = 3.8; and PE = 3.7 for men and %BF = 19.420 + (weight x 0.385) - (height x 0.215) + (abdominal circumference x 0.265); RMSE = 3.5; and PE = 3.5 for women.


CONCLUSIONS
These equations performed better in this developing-country population than did previously published equations.
Ramirez-Zea
Manuel
M
Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, PO Box 1188, Calzada Roosevelt, Zona 11, Guatemala City, Guatemala 01011. mramirez@incap.ops-oms.org
Torun
Benjamin
B
Martorell
Reynaldo
R
Stein
Aryeh D
AD
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014505:Urban Population