Assessment of Body Fat Percentage by Different Methods: A Comparative Study

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of body fat percentage (%BF) by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with two other methods, skinfold thickness measurements (STM) and Body Mass Index (BMI), in healthy subjects. A total of thirty healthy male with age ranges 26 to 49 years were selected as a subject from Gwalior for this study. % BF was assessed by using BIA and was compared with that measured by skinfold thickness equation and body mass index. Predicted percentage body fat (%BF) was derived from bioelectrical impedance by Maltron BF 908 body composition analyzer, skinfold equation given by Durnin and Womersley and body mass index specific prediction formula given by Deurenberg, Weststrate and Seidell. One way ANOVA result showed significant difference of %BF among different weighing methods. In the total group, %BF (BIA) (9.40 ± 4.1%) was significantly different from %BF (SFT) (19.95 ± 5.9%) and %BF (BMI) (19.67 ± 4.3 %).Although %BF (BIA) was significantly correlated with %BF (SFT)(r=0.667,p<.003)and with %BF (BMI)(r=0.816,p<.01). BIAin compare to skinfold thickness equation,underestimated body fat percentage by 10.55 kg and with BMI, underestimated body fat percentage by 10.27 Kg(p<.000 both). Bodyfat measurements using BIA were significantly correlated with those using STM and BMI across a wide range of body fat levels in healthy adults. The results between BIA and other two methods were significantly different. BIA underestimated%BFto %BF assessed by SFT and BMI methods. However, the error associated with level of body fat is not negligible and requires further investigation.