Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI
Background Over the last 20 years, a decreasing trend in external skeletal robusticity and an increasing trend in overweight and obesity was observed worldwide in adults and children as modern lifestyles in nutritional and activity behavior have changed. However, body mass index (BMI) as a measu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universitätsverlag Potsdam
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Human Biology and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/3 |
| _version_ | 1797230209736376320 |
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| author | Rebekka Mumm Anna Reimann Christiane Scheffler |
| author_facet | Rebekka Mumm Anna Reimann Christiane Scheffler |
| author_sort | Rebekka Mumm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background
Over the last 20 years, a decreasing trend in external skeletal robusticity and an increasing trend in overweight and obesity was observed worldwide in adults and children as modern lifestyles in nutritional and activity behavior have changed. However, body mass index (BMI) as a measure for overweight is not an ideal predictor of % body fat (%BF) either in children and adolescents or in adults. On the contrary, it disguises a phenomenon called “hidden obesity”.
Objectives
We aim to approximate %BF by combining skeletal robusticity and BMI and develop an estimation-based tool to identify normal weight obese children and adolescents.
Sample and Methods
We analyzed cross-sectional data on height, weight, elbow breadth, and skinfold thickness (triceps and subscapular) of German children aged 6 to 18 years (N=15,034). We used modified Hattori charts and multiple linear regression to develop a tool, the “%BF estimator”, to estimate %BF by using BMI and skeletal robusticity measured as Frame Index.
Results
Independent of sex and age an increase in BMI is associated with an increase in %BF, an increase in Frame Index is associated with a decrease in %BF. The developed tool “%BF estimator” allows the estimation of %BF per sex and age group after calculation of BMI and Frame Index.
Conclusion
The “%BF estimator” is an easily applicable tool for the estimation of %BF in respect of body composition for clinical practice, screening, and public health research. It is non-invasive and has high accuracy. Further, it allows the identification of normal weight obese children and adolescents.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:24:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba454fba491c4579a65af7dd7628bd9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2748-9957 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:24:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Universitätsverlag Potsdam |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Biology and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba454fba491c4579a65af7dd7628bd9e2024-04-02T07:04:15ZengUniversitätsverlag PotsdamHuman Biology and Public Health2748-99572021-06-01110.52905/hbph.v1.3Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI Rebekka Mumm0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-0899Anna Reimann1Christiane Scheffler2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1954-7578University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Human BiologyUniversity of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Human BiologyUniversity of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Human Biology Background Over the last 20 years, a decreasing trend in external skeletal robusticity and an increasing trend in overweight and obesity was observed worldwide in adults and children as modern lifestyles in nutritional and activity behavior have changed. However, body mass index (BMI) as a measure for overweight is not an ideal predictor of % body fat (%BF) either in children and adolescents or in adults. On the contrary, it disguises a phenomenon called “hidden obesity”. Objectives We aim to approximate %BF by combining skeletal robusticity and BMI and develop an estimation-based tool to identify normal weight obese children and adolescents. Sample and Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data on height, weight, elbow breadth, and skinfold thickness (triceps and subscapular) of German children aged 6 to 18 years (N=15,034). We used modified Hattori charts and multiple linear regression to develop a tool, the “%BF estimator”, to estimate %BF by using BMI and skeletal robusticity measured as Frame Index. Results Independent of sex and age an increase in BMI is associated with an increase in %BF, an increase in Frame Index is associated with a decrease in %BF. The developed tool “%BF estimator” allows the estimation of %BF per sex and age group after calculation of BMI and Frame Index. Conclusion The “%BF estimator” is an easily applicable tool for the estimation of %BF in respect of body composition for clinical practice, screening, and public health research. It is non-invasive and has high accuracy. Further, it allows the identification of normal weight obese children and adolescents. https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/3body fat estimatorbody compositionskeletal robusticityhidden obesitynormal weigh obese |
| spellingShingle | Rebekka Mumm Anna Reimann Christiane Scheffler Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI Human Biology and Public Health body fat estimator body composition skeletal robusticity hidden obesity normal weigh obese |
| title | Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI |
| title_full | Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI |
| title_fullStr | Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI |
| title_short | Estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies – a method based on relative elbow breadth (Frame Index) and BMI |
| title_sort | estimation of percentage of body fat in field studies a method based on relative elbow breadth frame index and bmi |
| topic | body fat estimator body composition skeletal robusticity hidden obesity normal weigh obese |
| url | https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/3 |
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