The development and validation of new equations for estimating body fat percentage among Chinese men and women

Br J Nutr. 2015 May 14;113(9):1365-72. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515000616. Epub 2015 Apr 8.

Abstract

Equations based on simple anthropometric measurements to predict body fat percentage (BF%) are lacking in Chinese population with increasing prevalence of obesity and related abnormalities. We aimed to develop and validate BF% equations in two independent population-based samples of Chinese men and women. The equations were developed among 960 Chinese Hans living in Shanghai (age 46.2 (SD 5.3) years; 36.7% male) using a stepwise linear regression and were subsequently validated in 1150 Shanghai residents (58.7 (SD 6.0) years; 41.7% male; 99% Chinese Hans, 1% Chinese minorities). The associations of equation-derived BF% with changes of 6-year cardiometabolic outcomes and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) were evaluated in a sub-cohort of 780 Chinese, compared with BF% measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; BF%-DXA). Sex-specific equations were established with age, BMI and waist circumference as independent variables. The BF% calculated using new sex-specific equations (BF%-CSS) were in reasonable agreement with BF%-DXA (mean difference: 0.08 (2 SD 6.64) %, P= 0.606 in men; 0.45 (2 SD 6.88) %, P< 0.001 in women). In multivariate-adjusted models, the BF%-CSS and BF%-DXA showed comparable associations with 6-year changes in TAG, HDL-cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein and uric acid (P for comparisons ≥ 0.05). Meanwhile, the BF%-CSS and BF%-DXA had comparable areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for associations with incident T2D (men P= 0.327; women P= 0.159). The BF% equations might be used as surrogates for DXA to estimate BF% among adult Chinese. More studies are needed to evaluate the application of our equations in different populations.

Keywords: Body fat percentage; Equations; Prospective studies; Type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Composition*
  • Body Mass Index
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Case-Control Studies
  • China
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Mathematics
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Triglycerides
  • C-Reactive Protein