Superiority of skinfold measurements and waist over waist-to-hip ratio for determination of body fat distribution in a population-based cohort of Caucasian Dutch adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which anthropometric measurement is the most reliable alternative for fat distribution as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).


METHODS
Population-based survey carried out in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


METHODS
A total of 376 individuals (200 women) with a mean age of 36.5 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.0 (+/-3.1) kg/m2 underwent various anthropometric and DXA measurements of central (CFM) and peripheral fat mass (PFM). Furthermore, for the assessment of apple-shaped body composition, CFM-to-PFM ratio was calculated. Anthropometric measurements were waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), BMI, waist/length and the skinfold thickness of biceps, triceps, suprailiacal (SI), subscapular (SS) and upper leg. We determined whether equations of combined anthropometrics were even more reliable for the assessment of fat mass.


RESULTS
In both women and men, reliable alternatives for CFM are central skinfolds and waist (Pearson's correlation (r) >or= 0.8). Peripheral skinfolds are the best predictors of PFM (r >or= 0.8). In contrast, WHR correlated only marginally with any of the DXA measurements. Equations based on several anthropometric variables correlate with CFM even better (R2 >or= 0.8). CFM-to-PFM ratio has the highest correlation with the ratio (SS+SI)/BMI in women (r = 0.66) and waist/length in men (r = 0.71). Equations are reasonable alternatives of CFM-to-PFM ratio (R2 >or= 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Waist and skinfolds are reliable alternatives for the measurement of body fat mass in a cohort of Caucasian adults. WHR is not appropriate for the measurement of fat distribution.
Ketel
Iris J G
IJ
Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, de Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, room 0Z120, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Volman
Mariken N M
MN
Seidell
Jacob C
JC
Stehouwer
Coen D A
CD
Twisk
Jos W
JW
Lambalk
Cornelis B
CB
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*