Comparison of methods to evaluate total body fat and its distribution.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two methods for evaluating total body fat and its distribution.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, cohort-nested study. Sixty-two women received a nutritional status evaluation which included total body fat (BF) obtained through the sum of skinfolds (ΣSF) and bioimpedance (BIA). Visceral fat distribution was measured using ultrasonography (USG) (intra-abdominal fat thickness) (IAT) and waist circumference (WC). The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the determination coefficient (r²) were calculated.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 48.19 (8.99) years. Thirty-six women (58.06%) had a very large WC and 42 (67.74%) had high body fat. There was moderate concordance (r² = 0.42; CCC = 0.59; p < 0.01) between the methods for determining body fat (%) and optimal concordance (r² = 0.90; CCC = 0.91; p < 0.01) for body fat (kg) determined by BIA and ΣSF. The comparison between WC and IAT (USG) showed moderate concordance (r² = 0.49; p < 0.01) between the methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate concordance in determining total body fat (%) and optimal concordance in determining body fat (kg) were found between the methods. Moderate concordance was found between the methods for determining body fat distribution.
School of Nutrition at Universidade Federal de Goiás.
Karine Anusca
KA
Martins
Estelamaris Tronco
ET
Monego
Régis Resende
RR
Paulinelli
Ruffo
R
Freitas-Junior
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged