A comparison of triceps skinfold values as measured by the plastic McGaw caliper and the Lange caliper.

The plastic McGaw caliper and the Lange caliper were used to measure the triceps skinfold thickness of both arms of 91 volunteer subjects and of the left arms of 14 obese patients. McGaw caliper values were highly correlated with the Lange caliper values (r = 0.97) but were significantly lower than the Lange caliper values (P less than 0.01). Triceps skinfolds could not be measured by the McGaw caliper on 11 very obese patients, all of whom had Lange triceps skinfold thicknesses greater than 45 mm.