Comparison of body composition assessment in women using skinfold thickness equations, bioelectrical impedance analysis and underwater weighing

The aims of this study were to assess the validity of four skinfold equations and bioelectrical impedance analysis and underwater weighing (UWW) in female college students. The subjects were 30 female students of physical education from the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran, aged 22-26 years (mean age = 22.73 ± 0.908 years, body height = 1.63 ± 0.043 m, body mass = 21.87 ± 2.62 kg/m 2 ). Relative body fat percent (%BF) based on underwater weighing was used as the validity criterion. Each participant’s %BF was assessed via the UWW on the basis of bioelectrical impedance and four skin fold equations. Body density and percent body fatness were determined using four commonly used skinfold thickness measurements: Jackson-Pollock (J-P) 3- and 7-site tests; Durnin-Womersley (D-W) 4-site test; and Sloan 2-site test (S). The statistical analysis used the Pearson correlation coefficient and paired sample Ttest, standard error of the estimate (SEE) and total error (TE). The analysis results revealed no significant differences with skinfold measurements using the Durnin-Womersley test (P = 0.117, r = 0.947, SEE = 1.4709, TE = 1.5112). Statistically significant differences were found between the BIA and Sloan test, Jackson-Pollock 3-site and 7-site test results and hydrostatic weighing results. The achieved results revealed that the Durnin-Womersley 4-site test was the most precise body fat estimation method.