Anthropometric predictive equations for percentage body fat in nigerian women using bioelectrical impedance as reference

Abstract

The objective of this research was to develop improved predictive regression equations specific for Nigerian women for body fat estimation derived from common anthropometric measurements. Eighty-one healthy Nigerian female subjects between the ages 18 and 52 years were recruited. Height, weight, chin, biceps, triceps, scapular, subscapular, abdominal and suprailiac skinfolds; neck, forearm, wrist, abdominal, waist and hip circumferences for these subjects 'were measured. Height was measured by a centimeter rule, skinfolds were measured using a Lange skinfold caliper, circumferences were measured using a soft-tape nile and body weight was obtained using an electronic weighing scale. In this preliminary work, body fat was measured for each subject using a commercial bioimpedance- based device used as the reference. Statistical analysis on data obtained was carried out using SPSS 15.0. Predictive regression equations (with r² = 0.931 and 0.945 respectively) that worked better for Nigerian women compared to other existing equations such as Durnin and Wormersley, Siri, Vogel el al, (1984) for the estimation of body fat were obtained. These equations·could be validly used for mass screening exercise in epidemiological
studies, nutrition/ clinical studies, and in lieu of the bioelectrical impedance method.

Keywords: Anthropometry, Predictive Equations, Percentage Body Fat, Nigerian Women, Bioelectric Impedance