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Skinfold Prediction Equation for Athletes Developed Using a Four-Component Model

2005; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 37; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1249/01.mss.0000176682.54071.5c

1530-0315

Ellen M. Evans, DAVE A. ROWE, Mark M. Misic, Barry M. Prior, Sigurbjörn Á. Arngrímsson,

Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies

Introduction: Skinfold (SKF) equations exist to predict percent body fat (%BF) in athletes; however, none have been derived from multicomponent model reference measures. Purpose: To develop and cross-validate a %BF prediction equation based on SKF in athletes using a four-component model as the reference measure. Methods: Subjects were 132 collegiate athletes (20.7 ± 2.0 yr; 78 males: 28 black, 50 white; 54 females: 10 black, 44 white). Four-component model estimates of %BF (%BF4C) included measures of total body water from deuterium dilution, bone mineral by dual- energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and body density by densitometry using underwater weighing. SKF measures included subscapular, triceps, chest, midaxillary, suprailiac, abdominal, and thigh sites (7SKF). A prediction equation was developed on 102 athletes using 7SKF, race, and gender as predictor variables. Cross-validation was performed on a representative holdout sample of 30 athletes. Results: The equation cross-validated well (slope and intercept both not different (P > 0.05) from the line of identity (LOI); rYY′ = 0.85, total error (TE) = 3.76%BF) and was better than the existing athlete SKF equations (intercept and slope both different from LOI (P < 0.01); rYY′ = 0.76, TE = 4.51%BF). Notably, a prediction equation developed using 3SKF sites (abdomen, thigh, and triceps) produced a similar accuracy (intercept and slope both not different from LOI (P > 0.05); rYY′ = 0.85, TE = 3.66%BF). Conclusions: The new 7SKF equation improved on SKF equations developed using densitometry. The final equation based on the whole sample was %BF′ = 10.566 + 0.12077*(7SKF) – 8.057*(gender) – 2.545*(race). Moreover, a 3SKF equation was comparable in accuracy to the 7SKF equation: BF′ = 8.997 + 0.24658*(3SKF) – 6.343*(gender) – 1.998*(race).