Research progress in the field of body composition

A broad review is presented of the changes in "state of the art" in body composition between 1963 and 1983, together with suggestions for future research. Consideration is given to the development of equations to estimate body density from anthropometry with special reference to the limitations of the stepwise approach and the need to consider power functions. The advantages of the maximum R2 method and the potential of ridge regressions to extend the applicability of estimation equations is discussed. During the past decade, there has been considerable interest in selecting indices of weight and stature, with suitable powers, for use as measures of obesity. Such indices are of doubtful value in children and not all methods applied to adults have been appropriate. Many consider frame size fundamental to judgments of the normality of weight in adults. There is merit in this concept but we lack a measure of frame size that explains a considerable part of the variance in body fat unaccounted for by weight and stature. Among the many studies of adipocytes, those of size are more valid than those of number, but there are problems related to the distribution of sizes within samples and the selection of sampling sites.