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Prediction of body fat in adolescents: validity of the methods relative fat mass, body adiposity index and body fat index

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Abstract

Objective

To verify the validity of anthropometric methods body adiposity index (BAI), relative fat mass (RFM) and body fat index (BFI) to estimate body fat percentage (%BF) in adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 420 Brazilian adolescents aged 15–19 years, stratified by age (< 18 years, n = 356; ≥ 18 years, n = 64) and sex (boys, n = 216; girls, n = 204). The Anthropometric measurements height, body weight, hip circumference and waist circumference were collected to calculate the %BF by BAI, RFM, BFI methods. Subsequently, %BF was measured by dual emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), adopted as a reference method. In the statistical analysis of the data, the Pearson correlation test and the paired t test between %BF obtained by the equations and by the DXA were performed. The method validation criterion was that 68% of individuals should be within an acceptable error range of ± 3.5% of BF and Cohen's Kappa index ≥ 0.61. Additionally, the Bland–Altman graphical analysis was performed.

Results

All methods showed a high correlation with DXA. For the Kappa index, only the RFM reached the criterion in the total sample (0.67) and in the sample < 18 years (0.68). None of the methods reached the criterion of 68% of the sample within the error range of ± 3.5% of BF.

Conclusion

The BAI, RFM and BFI equations were not valid for predicting BF in the studied sample according to the criteria adopted regardless of sex or age.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Data availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

The equipment for data collection in the present study was provided by the Human Performance Laboratory of the Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Viçosa, headed by Professor João Carlos Bouzas Marins.

Funding

No funds, grants, or other support was received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Campus Santa Apolónia, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Bragança, Portugal

    Irismar G. A. Encarnação & Pedro M. Magalhães

  2. Campus Rio Pomba, Federal Institute Southeast of Minas Gerais, Rio Pomba, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Matheus S. Cerqueira

  3. Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Matheus S. Cerqueira & João C. B. Marins

  4. Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Diego A. S. Silva

  5. School of Education, Campus Santa Apolónia, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Bragança, Portugal

    Irismar G. A. Encarnação

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  1. Irismar G. A. Encarnação
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  2. Matheus S. Cerqueira
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  3. Diego A. S. Silva
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  4. João C. B. Marins
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  5. Pedro M. Magalhães
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Contributions

IGAE and MSC contributed to all parts of this study. JCBM, PM and DS are responsible for data interpretation and manuscript revision. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irismar G. A. Encarnação.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Plataforma Brasil system, nº CAAE 99311418.0.0000.5153).

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All of the participants signed and approved a written informed consent before participation in the study.

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Encarnação, I.G.A., Cerqueira, M.S., Silva, D.A.S. et al. Prediction of body fat in adolescents: validity of the methods relative fat mass, body adiposity index and body fat index. Eat Weight Disord 27, 1651–1659 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01301-6

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