Validation of two methods of skin fold and bioelectrical impedance with hydrostatic method for determining the body fat percent in active men

Abstract

Validation of two methods of skin fold and bioelectrical impedance withhydrostatic method for determining the body fat percent in active menAbstractPurpose: This study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of skin fold andbioelectrical impedance methods in detecting body fat percent in comparison to the hydrostaticmethod. Methods: For this reason, 40 students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (age,22.2±2.73 years; height, 176.27±6.08 cm; and weight, 69.92±7.41 kg) were randomly chosen.Body density (BD) was determined by using hydrostatic, skin fold (seven site equation of Jackson& Pollock) and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) methods. Thereafter, body fat percent (BF%) wascalculated for all methods using the Siri’s equation. Statistical analyses were performed usingPearson’s correlation coefficient and paired t-test at P<0.05. Results: Data analysis showed asignificant difference between skin fold method and hydrostatic method (R=0.959, P<0.001). Thevalidity of BIA machine in comparison with criterion method was confirmed (R=0.946, P<0.05).Conclusions: Based on the findings of this investigation, it could be concluded that the BIAmethod is suitable method for determining body fat percent in active men and it could be a goodreplacement for the expensive hydrostatic method.

Keywords

• validity
• body fat percent
• bioelectrical impedance
• skin fold