ScholarLens Back to search
1992•PubMedRequires access

Reliability of skinfold calipers as a tool for measuring body fat in human beings.

B. N. S. Walia, Anil Kumar Bhalla, S. Suri

Open publisher page 5 citations

Abstract

Triceps skinfold thickness measured in ten adults aged 19 to 50 yr by a Holtain skinfold caliper, was compared with subcutaneous fat thickness obtained on cross-sections of the left upper arm by computerized axial tomography (CAT). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was measured on CAT scan film directly with the inbuilt computer graphic technique. The measurements taken on CAT scan film were found to be significantly higher (by 21-45%; P less than 0.001) than those by the skinfold calipers. Our findings suggest that skinfold calipers may not be very accurate tools for the assessment of body fat in human beings. Therefore, its use in the determination of body composition, for which great precision is required calls for re-thinking.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Triceps skinfold thickness measured in ten adults aged 19 to 50 yr by a Holtain skinfold caliper, was compared with subcutaneous fat thickness obtained on cross-sections of the left upper arm by computerized axial tomography (CAT). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was measured on CAT scan film directly with the inbuilt computer graphic technique. The measurements taken on CAT scan film were found to be significantly higher (by 21-45%; P less than 0.001) than those by the skinfold calipers. Our findings suggest that skinfold calipers may not be very accurate tools for the assessment of body fat in human beings. Therefore, its use in the determination of body composition, for which great precision is required calls for re-thinking.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 5 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Triceps skinfold thickness measured in ten adults aged 19 to 50 yr by a Holtain skinfold caliper, was compared with subcutaneous fat thickness obtained on cross-sections of the left upper arm by computerized axial tomography (CAT). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was measured on CAT scan film directly with the inbuilt computer graphic technique. The measurements taken on CAT scan film were found to be significantly higher (by 21-45%; P less than 0.001) than those by the skinfold calipers. Our findings suggest that skinfold calipers may not be very accurate tools for the assessment of body fat in human beings. Therefore, its use in the determination of body composition, for which great precision is required calls for re-thinking.

Key concepts: Calipers, Skinfold thickness, Subcutaneous fat, Medicine, Anatomy, Nuclear medicine, Biomedical engineering, Body weight

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Reliability of skinfold calipers as a tool for measuring body fat in human beings. — Research Paper | ScholarLens