Comparison of methods to evaluate total body fat and its distribution

To compare two methods for evaluating total body fat and its distribution.

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.

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.

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.