Determination of body composition from skinfold thickness: a validation study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Body Composition Analysis
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Body composition measurement is crucial in pediatric clinical nutrition and research.
• Skinfold thickness is a common method for estimating body composition in children, but its validity is questionable.
• Numerous skinfold prediction equations exist, but their general applicability is uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate five commonly used skinfold thickness prediction equations.
• To assess the accuracy of these equations in estimating body fatness in healthy prepubertal children.
• To compare skinfold-derived fatness estimates with hydrodensitometry measurements.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 98 healthy prepubertal children (64 boys, 34 girls) participated.
• Body fatness was measured using hydrodensitometry (criterion method).
• Estimates from five skinfold prediction equations were compared to hydrodensitometry measurements.

Main Results:

• Wide limits of agreement were observed between predicted and measured fatness, especially in girls.
• Distinct biases were apparent, indicating systematic errors in the prediction equations.
• The choice of prediction equation significantly influenced the estimated fatness in children.

Conclusions:

• Existing skinfold prediction equations for children exhibit large random or significant systematic errors.
• Skidfold thickness may be more appropriate as an index of body fatness for groups rather than a precise measure for individuals.
• Current evidence suggests that estimating total body fatness in individual prepubertal children using skinfold equations is not advisable.