Abstract
Objective: To develop equations, from some simple anthropometric measurements, for the prediction of body density from underwater weighing in male spanish children and adolescents.
Subjects: One hundred and seventy-five males, aged 7.0–16.9 y, participated in this study, they were recruited from primary and secondary schools.
Measurements: Body weight and height and skinfold thicknesses by anthropometry, body density by underwater weighing.
Results: Correlations between body density and body mass index (BMI) were high until 14.0–16.9 y. Correlations between body density and log Σ 4 skinfolds were higher than those with BMI at all ages. Log Σ 4 skinfolds explained between 61% (14.0–16.9 y) and 68% (11.0–13.9 y) of the body density variance. Regression equations for body density from BMI and triceps skinfold thickness explained between 51% (14.0–16.9 y) and 68% (7.0–10.9 y) of the body density variance.
Conclusions: The best estimators of body density in the children and adolescents studied were log Σ 4 skinfolds and a combination of BMI and triceps skinfold.
Sponsorship: Universidad de Zaragoza
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sarría, A., García-Llop, L., Moreno, L. et al. Skinfold thickness measurements are better predictors of body fat percentage than body mass index in male Spanish children and adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr 52, 573–576 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600606
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600606
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Early-life residential green spaces and traffic exposure in association with young adult body composition: a longitudinal birth cohort study of twins
Environmental Health (2023)
-
Equations based on anthropometric measurements for adipose tissue, body fat, or body density prediction in children and adolescents: a scoping review
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (2022)
-
Secular trends in adiposity within the context of changes in BMI across developmental periods among Polish schoolchildren—application of the Slaughter equation
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2021)
-
Diet as moderator in the association of adiposity with inflammatory biomarkers among adolescents in the HELENA study
European Journal of Nutrition (2019)
-
Diet as a moderator in the association of sedentary behaviors with inflammatory biomarkers among adolescents in the HELENA study
European Journal of Nutrition (2019)