Abstract
Changes in body composition and specifically fat mass, has traditionally been used as a way to monitor the changes produced by nutrition and training. The objective of the present study was to analyse the differences between the formulas used to estimate fat mass and to establish the existing relationship with the body mass index and sums of skinfolds measurement in kinanthropometry. A total of 2458 active adults participated in the study. Body mass index (BMI) and skinfolds were measured, and the Kerr, Durnin-Womersley, Faulkner and Carter equations were used to assess fat mass. Significant differences were found between all the formulas for the percentage of fat mass, ranging from 10.70 ± 2.48 to 28.43 ± 5.99% (p < 0.001) and fat mass from 7.56 ± 2.13 to 19.89 ± 4.24 kg (p < 0.001). The correlations among sums of skinfolds and the different equations were positive, high and significant in all the cases (r from 0.705 to 0.926 p < 0.001), unlike in the case of BMI, were the correlation was lower and both positive or negative (r from −0.271 to 0.719; p < 0.001). In conclusion, there were differences between all the formulas used to estimate fat mass; thus, for the evaluation of fat mass with kinanthropometry of an active adult, the use of the same formula is recommended on all occasions when the results are going to be compared or when an athlete is compared with a reference.
Highlights
The changes in body composition, and the percentage of fat mass, have traditionally been used as a way to monitor the effects produced by training and nutrition in athletes and non-athlete population [1,2,3,4]
Athletes can be characterized according to the type of sport and the specific field position according to fat mass [11]
The present study was conducted with a sample of 2458 active subjects (mean age: 27.98 ± 7.43 years-old; mean metabolic equivalents (MET)—minute/week: 3728.63 ± 132,815), of which
Summary
The changes in body composition, and the percentage of fat mass, have traditionally been used as a way to monitor the effects produced by training and nutrition in athletes and non-athlete population [1,2,3,4]. Nutritional interventions and training programs aimed at improving the performance of athletes have been shown to be effective in reducing fat mass [5,6]. There is a relationship between fat mass and health indicators of different groups of non-athlete populations [12]. Obesity is defined as the accumulation of excess body fat to the extent that it may have adverse effects on health [15]. Public Health 2020, 17, 7777; doi:10.3390/ijerph17217777 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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.
