title: A comparison between multiple regression models and CUN-BAE equation to predict body fat in adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because the accurate measure of body fat (BF) is difficult, several prediction equations have been proposed. The aim of this study was to compare different multiple regression models to predict BF, including the recently reported CUN-BAE equation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi regression models using body mass index (BMI) and body adiposity index (BAI) as predictors of BF will be compared. These models will be also compared with the CUN-BAE equation. For all the analysis a sample including all the participants and another one including only the overweight and obese subjects will be considered. The BF reference measure was made using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simplest models including only BMI or BAI as independent variables showed that BAI is a better predictor of BF. However, adding the variable sex to both models made BMI a better predictor than the BAI. For both the whole group of participants and the group of overweight and obese participants, using simple models (BMI, age and sex as variables) allowed obtaining similar correlations with BF as when the more complex CUN-BAE was used (ρ = 0:87 vs. ρ = 0:86 for the whole sample and ρ = 0:88 vs. ρ = 0:89 for overweight and obese subjects, being the second value the one for CUN-BAE).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are simpler models than CUN-BAE equation that fits BF as well as CUN-BAE does. Therefore, it could be considered that CUN-BAE overfits. Using a simple linear regression model, the BAI, as the only variable, predicts BF better than BMI. However, when the sex variable is introduced, BMI becomes the indicator of choice to predict BF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universitat Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain; Research Group on Evidence, Lifestyles & Health. Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS). Universitat Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuster-Parra
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Evidence, Lifestyles & Health. Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS). Universitat Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennasar-Veny
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Evidence, Lifestyles & Health. Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS). Universitat Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tauler
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Palma (IdISPa), University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Aina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yañez
authors.affiliation: Prevention of Occupational Risks in Health Services, GESMA, Balearic Islands Health Service, Hospital de Manacor, Manacor, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: López-González
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Evidence, Lifestyles & Health. Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS). Universitat Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguiló
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
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