Abstract
BACKGROUND: Methods used to estimate percent body fat can be classified as a laboratory or field technique. However, the validity of these methods compared to multiple-compartment models has not been fully established. This investigation sought to determine the validity of field and laboratory methods for estimating percent fat (%fat) in healthy college-age women compared to the Siri three-compartment model (3C). METHODS: Thirty Caucasian women (21.1 +/- 1.5 yrs; 164.8 +/- 4.7 cm; 61.2 +/- 6.8 kg) had their %fat estimated by BIA using the BodyGramtrade mark computer program (BIA-AK) and population-specific equation (BIA-Lohman), NIR (Futrex(R) 6100/XL), a quadratic (SF3JPW) and linear (SF3WB) skinfold equation, air-displacement plethysmography (BP), and hydrostatic weighing (HW). RESULTS: All methods produced acceptable total error (TE) values compared to the 3C model. Both laboratory methods produced similar TE values (HW, TE = 2.4%fat; BP, TE = 2.3%fat) when compared to the 3C model, though a significant constant error (CE) was detected for HW (1.5%fat, p 2.7%fat) compared to the 3C model. Additionally, the SF3JPW %fat estimation equation resulted in a significant CE (2.6%fat, p