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

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.

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

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).

Using multiple linear regression analyses, the best equation for predicting FM (R(2) = 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 (R(2) = 0.80), while previously published equations were not.

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.