Comparison of anthropometric-based equations for estimation of body fat percentage in a normal-weight and overweight female cohort: validation via air-displacement plethysmography.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of the most commonly used anthropometric-based equations in the estimation of percentage body fat (%BF) in both normal-weight and overweight women using air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) as the criterion measure.

DESIGN

A comparative study in which the equations of Durnin and Womersley (1974; DW) and Jackson, Pollock and Ward (1980) at three, four and seven sites (JPW₃, JPW₄ and JPW₇) were validated against ADP in three groups. Group 1 included all participants, group 2 included participants with a BMI <25·0 kg/m² and group 3 included participants with a BMI ≥25·0 kg/m².

SETTING

Human Performance Laboratory, Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

SUBJECTS

Forty-three female participants aged between 18 and 55 years.

RESULTS

In all three groups, the %BF values estimated from the DW equation were closer to the criterion measure (i.e. ADP) than those estimated from the other equations. Of the three JPW equations, JPW₃ provided the most accurate estimation of %BF when compared with ADP in all three groups.

CONCLUSION

In comparison to ADP, these findings suggest that the DW equation is the most accurate anthropometric method for the estimation of %BF in both normal-weight and overweight females.