A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF MEASURING FAT MASS IN HEALTHY INDIANS WITH A WIDE BMI RANGE

The prediction of fat mass from the measurement of bioelectricai impedance has gained popularity because of the ease of performing the measurement. However, the prediction equation used in this method could be specific for a distribution of body size. This study tested the prediction of fat mass in Indian, by the use of an equation based on bioelectrical impedance, which had earlier been generated on a group of low body mass index (BMI 18.15 ± 2.07 kg/m2) Indians. The impedance method was tested against a standard skinfold method based on the sum of four skinfolds, in a group of 68 Indian males with a large range of BMI (16-26 kg/m2'). The subject were tested as a single group, and were also stratified into four groups based on their BMI, with ranges of BMI between, 15.0-17.9, 18.0-20.9, 21.0-23.9, and > 24.0. The mean difference between the estimates of fat mass from the two methods was low in the lowest body mass index (BMI) group (0.91 ± 2.00 kg), with the impedance equation over-estimating the fat mass in all groups. This suggests that the impedance equation should be used with caution in groups whose BMI is above 21. The distribution of the skinfold thickness revealed that the thickness of the supraihac skinfold showed the most linear and greatest increment, as the BMI increased across the groups, indicating that it is probably the best single indicator of the fat mass, among the individual skinfolds.