title: Comparison between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and skinfolds thickness in assessing body fat in anorexia nervosa before and after weight restoration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the correspondence between body fat mass composition (percentage) measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and estimated by means of skinfold thicknesses (ST) measurement in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), before and after weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage body fat (%BF) was measured with DXA and estimated by ST measurements using Siri, Brozek, and Heyward equations in 27 adult patients with AN before and after weight gain (pre- and post-treatment) achieved with inpatient treatment and in 42 healthy age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Due to Lohman criteria and Bland Altman plot there is no correspondence between the %BF measured with DXA and the %BF estimated by predictive equations based on ST measurements in patients with AN before and after weight gain, with the exception of Brozek equation which showed a mild agreement in pre-treatment AN. However, a correspondence was observed between the two procedures in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data supporting the use of ST measurements do not appear to be an alternative to DXA in estimating body fat percentage, before and after weight gain in patients with AN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Eating Disorder and Obesity, Villa Garda Hospital, Via Montebaldo, 89, 37016 Garda (Vr), Italy. marwan1979@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Ghoch
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.forename: Nino Carlo
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Battistini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calugi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalle Grave
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult