A Physical Model for Estimating Body Fat

The report describes a set of measurements of lengths, circumferences, and skinfold thickness by which to estimate the volume of fat in human subjects. The fat mass of seven body compartments is estimated and summed to obtain an estimate of the total body fat. Measurements were made on 61 young men. Body compositions computed from these measurements were compared with estimates made at about the same times using a body volumeter. Correlation coefficients for lean mass, fat mass, and percent body fat were 0.926, 0.845, and 0.756, respectively. Changes in fat mass estimated by the two methods were compared with the corresponding changes in body weight. Results from the anthropometric model were apparently as dependable as those obtained with the body volumeter. The anthropometric model is therefore considered acceptable for monitoring body composition when the composition can be checked occasionally with a body volumeter. Such a check is required to calibrate the anthropometric model, which tends to overestimate fat in lean men and underestimate it in fat men.