Abstract

MARTINS, Karine Anusca; MONEGO, Estelamaris Tronco; PAULINELLI, Régis Resende  and  FREITAS-JUNIOR, Ruffo. Comparison of methods to evaluate total body fat and its distribution. Rev. bras. epidemiol. [online]. 2011, vol.14, n.4, pp. 677-687. ISSN 1415-790X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-790X2011000400014.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two methods for evaluating total body fat and its distribution. METHODS: Cross-sectional, cohort-nested study. Sixty-two women received a nutritional status evaluation which included total body fat (BF) obtained through the sum of skinfolds (ΣSF) and bioimpedance (BIA). Visceral fat distribution was measured using ultrasonography (USG) (intra-abdominal fat thickness) (IAT) and waist circumference (WC). The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the determination coefficient (r²) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 48.19 (8.99) years. Thirty-six women (58.06%) had a very large WC and 42 (67.74%) had high body fat. There was moderate concordance (r² = 0.42; CCC = 0.59; p < 0.01) between the methods for determining body fat (%) and optimal concordance (r² = 0.90; CCC = 0.91; p < 0.01) for body fat (kg) determined by BIA and ΣSF. The comparison between WC and IAT (USG) showed moderate concordance (r² = 0.49; p < 0.01) between the methods. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate concordance in determining total body fat (%) and optimal concordance in determining body fat (kg) were found between the methods. Moderate concordance was found between the methods for determining body fat distribution.

Keywords : Body composition; Body fat distribution; Skinfold thickness; Electric impedance; Waist circumference; Public health.