Comparison of convenient indicators of obesity

A comparative study of obesity measurements was undertaken with 533 male and female subjects, aged 11.8-15.9. Six adiposity measures (three skinfold indices, three height-weight indices) were derived from measures of height, weight, and eight skinfold thickness measurements. A principal components analysis of these adiposity measures resulted in a unifactorial solution accounting for 85.6% of the total variance. A cross-tabulation analysis with the derived factor scores and a criterion visual inspection rating supported the interpretation that the underlying construct of the factor was adiposity, and that a factor score of greater than 1.5 SD above the mean was a suitable standard for labeling obesity. Utilizing this dichotomy of factor scores as a standard, the differential diagnostic capabilities of four adiposity scales commonly used in identifying obesity was undertaken. Pursuit of this methodology, with the use of additional measures and larger sample sizes, is recommended to ensure the validation of an obesity measure.