Abstract
The present study was undertaken (1) to evaluate to what extent percent body fat predicted from commonly used equations differs from that determined by hydrostatic weighing technique, and (2) to propose sample specific equations to predict percent body fat in obese women. Subjects were 51 adult obese women (23 sedentary women and 28 active women, mostly middle-aged) . Percent body fat (% fat) determined by hydrostatic weighing (densitometry) averaged 33.1±3.7%, while % fat velues (X=27.1-30.0 in sedentary women, 24.2-27.1 in active women, and 25.4-28.4 in all women) predicted from Nagamine equations were significantly lower and correlated in the order of only 0.1 to 0.6 with densitometry %fat. Of the eight equations developed for predicting % fat of obese women, Y=8.87+ 0.223 X1-0.180 X2 was considered the best choice, where X2: Katsura Index and X2 : sub-scapular skinfold (mm) . It is recommended that this equation or some other equations developed in the present study be applicable to a wide range of adult obese women. Caution is necessary, however, as to if those equations could be generalized to younger obese women.
