Abstract
Given the rising prevalence of obesity, particularly in young adults, it is important to develop valid field‐based methods that can used to estimate body fatness. Body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) is currently used to categorize obesity, despite the fact that BMI is only moderately correlated with percent body fat. The purpose of this study was to develop a body fat prediction equation specifically for a college‐aged population. 270 Caucasian (n=161) and African American (n=109) students aged 18‐24 volunteered to participate. Height and weight were measured and BMI values calculated. Total percent body fat (%BF) was estimated using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Stepwise multiple linear regression examined significant predictor variables of %BF, including gender, race, age, and BMI. The predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS) statistic cross‐validated the model. The reduced model explained 80% of the variance in total percent body fat (%BF = 1.53[BMI] ‐ 16.47[gender] ‐ 1.29[race] ‐ 4.5; note: 0 =female, 1=male; 0=Caucasian, 1=African American). Additionally, the root mean squared error (RMSE) for the model (4.2 %BF) was equivalent to the cross‐validation statistic. These results suggest that body adiposity can be predicted with greater accuracy in a college‐aged population when gender and race are included in addition to BMI.Grant Funding Source: N/A
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.