Development and validation of two equations based on anthropometry, estimating body fat for the Greek adult population.

OBJECTIVE

To validate anthropometric equations in the current literature predicting body fat percentage (%BF) in the Greek population, to develop and validate two anthropometric equations estimating %BF, and to compare them with the retrieved equations.

METHODS

Anthropometric data from 642 Greek adults were incorporated. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used as reference method. The comparison with other equations was made using Bland-Altman analysis, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Nine of the thirty-one retrieved equations had no statistically significant bias. However, all of them had wide limits of agreement (±8.3 to ±16%BF). The equations accrued were: BF% = -0.615-10.948 × sex + 0.321 × waist circumference + 0.502 × hips circumference-0.39 × forearm circumference - 19.768 × height (m) and BF% = -27.787-5.515 × sex-8.419 × height + 0.145 × waist circumference + 0.270 × hips circumference + 7.509 × log of thigh skinfold + 20.090 × log of sum of skinfolds (bicep + tricep + suprailiac + subscapular)-0.445 × forearm circumference. Bland-Altman's reliability analysis showed no significant bias of -0.058 and -0.148%BF and limits of agreement ±8.100 and ±6.056%BF; the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.955 and 0.976; and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was 0.914 and 0.951, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Literature equations performed moderately on this study's population. Therefore, two equations were designed and validated. The first one was simple and easily applicable, with measures obtained from a measuring tape, and the second one more complicated yet more accurate and reliable. Both were found to be reliable for the assessment of body composition in the Greek population.