Estimating total body fat using a skinfold prediction equation in Brazilian children

Abstract

Background: The double burden of obesity and underweight is increasing in developing countries and simple methods for the assessment of fat mass in children are needed.

Aim: To develop and validate a new anthropometric predication equation for assessment of fat mass in children.

Subjects and methods: Body composition was assessed in 145 children aged 9.8 ± 1.3 (SD) years from São Paulo, Brazil using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and skinfold measurements. The study sample was divided into development and validation sub-sets to develop a new prediction equation for FM (PE).

Results: Using multiple linear regression analyses, the best equation for predicting FM (R² = 0.77) included body weight, triceps skinfold, height, gender and age as independent variables. When cross-validated, the new PE was valid in this sample (R² = 0.80), while previously published equations were not.

Conclusion: The PE was more valid for Brazilian children that existing equations, but further studies are needed to assess the validity of this PE in other populations.

Keywords::

• Anthropometry
• body composition
• skinfolds
• stunting
• developing countries

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.