Estimation of body fat in athletes: skinfolds vs bioelectrical impedance.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare two different field methods (skinfolds(SKF(vs bioimpedance analysis(BIA) for estimation of body fatness in top-level athletes.


METHODS
This study was conducted with 219 male professional athletes who were recruited during pre-participation physical examination. Skinfold thicknesses at 7 sites were obtained using a Harpenden caliper while total body resistance was measured with a foot-pad bioelectrical impedance analyzer at a fixed signal frequency of 50 kHz and 500 microA.


RESULTS
The athletes showed non-significant difference in body fat percentage (%BF) between the average %BFSKF and %BFBIA (P > 0.05). Average time of assessment per subject was significantly longer during skinfold measurement (P < 0.01) as compared with BIA assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the estimates of body fat were similar between SKF and BIA with significant correlation (r = 0.96) between methods while BIA method is less time-consuming. In conclusion, the most simple, quick, and inexpensive method of BIA seems to be very useful to the dietitians' routine for assessing body fat in physically active individuals and athletes.
Ostojic
S M
SM
Institute of Sports Medicine, Sports Academy, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. sergej@panet.co.yu
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013177:Sports