Comparison of anthropometry to DXA: a new prediction equation for men

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 58; no. 11; pp. 1525 - 1531
• Main Authors: Ball, S.D, Altena, T.S, Swan, P.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2004; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: abdomen; Absorptiometry, Photon - methods; Adipose Tissue - anatomy & histology; Adolescent; Adult; anthropometric measurements; Anthropometry; Anthropometry - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body fat; Body measurements; chest; Clinical Nutrition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; Epidemiology; equations; exercise; Exercise physiology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Mathematical analysis; Mathematics; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Technology; Norms; original-communication; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Physiology; prediction; Predictive Value of Tests; Public Health; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Standard error; Thigh; United States; Weight; X-rays; United States; dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; body composition; body fat; Human; Nutrition; Anthropometry; Dual energy absorptiometry; Prediction; Equation; Fat mass; Body composition; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602003

Objective: This study compared three professionally recommended anthropometric body composition prediction equations for men to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and then developed an updated equation, DXA Criterion (DC) from DXA. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Exercise Physiology Lab. University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. Subjects: A total of 160 men aged 18-62 y old. Interventions: Percent body fat (%BF) by anthropometry was compared to DXA on the same day. Results: Although %BF was significantly correlated (r=0.923-0.942) (P<0.01) with DXA for all three equations, each equation underestimated %BF (range=3.1-3.3%) (P<0.01) compared to DXA. The following DC equation for men was created: %BF=0.465+0.180(sigma7SF)-0.0002406(sigma7SF)2+0.06619(age); (sigma7SF=sum of chest, midaxillary, triceps, subscapular, abdomen, suprailiac, thigh; age=years). The predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) R2 was high (0.90) and the PRESS standard error of estimates was excellent (2.2% at the mean) for the DC equation when applied to our sample of 160 men. Conclusions: The currently recommended anthropometric equations for men underestimate %BF compared to DXA. The DC equation yields a more accurate estimation of %BF in men aged 18-62 y old. The results from this study support the need for the current %BF standards and norms for men to be adjusted upward.