Abstract
Background
Adiposity is an independent predictor of metabolic disease. However, highly accurate
body fat assessment is not routinely done due to limited access to expensive and labor-intensive
methods.
Objective
The aim of the study was to develop body fat prediction equations for Asian-Chinese
adults using easily attainable anthropometric measurements.
Design
Prediction equations of body fat were developed using anthropometric and skinfold
thickness measurements obtained from a cross-sectional study. These new equations
were then validated using baseline data from an independent randomized controlled
study.
Participants/setting
Healthy participants with no major diseases and not taking long-term medications were
recruited in an ongoing cross-sectional study that began in June 2014 (n=439, 170
males, 269 females), as well as a randomized controlled trial (n=108, 58 males, 50
females) conducted from January 2013 to October 2014. Both the studies were conducted
at Clinical Nutrition Research Center located in Singapore.
Main outcome measures
Data used to develop and validate equations were from two original studies that assessed
body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, age, waist circumference, height, and
biceps and triceps skinfolds.
Statistical analysis performed
Sex-specific percent body fat prediction equations were developed using stepwise regression
with Akaike Information Criterion on the cross-sectional data. The equations were
then validated using data from the randomized controlled study and also compared against
Asian-specific Davidson equations.
Results
The best body fat prediction model (R2=0.722, standard error of estimation=2.97 for females; R2=0.815, standard error of estimation=2.49 for males) for both sexes included biceps
and triceps skinfolds, waist circumference, age, and height. The new equations developed
resulted in modest discrepancies in body fat of 1.8%±2.7% in males (P<0.001) and 0.7%±3.1% in females (P=0.125; not significant) compared with the Asian-specific Davidson equations (−7.4%±3.2%
[P<0.001] and −7.4%±2.7% [P<0.001], respectively).
Conclusions
Sex-specific equations to predict the percent body fat of Asian-Chinese adults with
a higher degree of accuracy were developed. Ease of use in both field and clinical
settings will be a major advantage.
Keywords
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Biography
C. J. Henry is director, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and National University Health System, Singapore, and a professor, Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Biography
S. D/O Ponnalagu is a statistician, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and National University Health System, Singapore.
Biography
X. Bi is a research fellow, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and National University Health System, Singapore.
Biography
S.-Y. Tan is a senior research fellow, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and National University Health System, Singapore.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 08, 2018
Accepted:
February 23,
2018
Received:
August 7,
2017
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT Studies reported in this manuscript were funded by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and educational grant from Beneo GmbH (Germany), respectively.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
