title: Percent body fat estimations in college men using field and laboratory methods: a three-compartment model approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methods used to estimate percent body fat can be classified as a laboratory or field technique. However, the validity of these methods compared to multiple-compartment models has not been fully established. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of field and laboratory methods for estimating percent fat (%fat) in healthy college-age men compared to the Siri three-compartment model (3C).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one Caucasian men (22.5 +/- 2.7 yrs; 175.6 +/- 6.3 cm; 76.4 +/- 10.3 kg) had their %fat estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using the BodyGram computer program (BIA-AK) and population-specific equation (BIA-Lohman), near-infrared interactance (NIR) (Futrex(R) 6100/XL), four circumference-based military equations [Marine Corps (MC), Navy and Air Force (NAF), Army (A), and Friedl], air-displacement plethysmography (BP), and hydrostatic weighing (HW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All circumference-based military equations (MC = 4.7% fat, NAF = 5.2% fat, A = 4.7% fat, Friedl = 4.7% fat) along with NIR (NIR = 5.1% fat) produced an unacceptable total error (TE). Both laboratory methods produced acceptable TE values (HW = 2.5% fat; BP = 2.7% fat). The BIA-AK, and BIA-Lohman field methods produced acceptable TE values (2.1% fat). A significant difference was observed for the MC and NAF equations compared to both the 3C model and HW (p < 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that the BP and HW are valid laboratory methods when compared to the 3C model to estimate %fat in college-age Caucasian men. When the use of a laboratory method is not feasible, BIA-AK, and BIA-Lohman are acceptable field methods to estimate %fat in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Metabolic and Body Composition Laboratories, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. jordanmoon@ou.edu
authors.forename: Jordan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Tobkin
authors.forename: Abbie E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Dalbo
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: Ashley A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Joel T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Travis W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stout