Percentage Body Fat Predicted by Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference & Age in Different Racial & Gender Groups

Abstract

Percentage Body Fat Predicted by Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Age in Different Racial and Gender Groups Studies have shown that percentage body fat (%BF) is highly correlated with the body-mass index (BMI) and waist circumferences (WC) in different age, race, and gender. However, taking ethnicity factor into account to predict %BF has not been established. PURPOSE: We explored the equations of %BF predicted by BMI, WC, and age in different racial and gender groups. METHODS: We use National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2004) data with sample weighing 488058396 in five race groups including Mexican American (MA), other Hispanic (OH), Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and other Race - including Multi-Racial (OR). %BF was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Prediction equation of %BF was developed based on different race and gender groups with predictors of WC, BMI, and age (20 and older). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant interaction between groups. The results of the regression equation in different race and gender groups are as the following table:CONCLUSION: Formulating prediction equations in different gender and race groups does not improve the prediction of %BF. Further analyses such as cross-validation based on split training and testing datasets are needed.