Evaluating the correlation and prediction of trunk fat mass with five anthropometric indices in Chinese females aged 20-40 years

Abstract

Background and aims: Obesity is a worldwide problem, and excess trunk fat mass (FM(trunk)) has been associated with an increased risk of diseases. The early measurement of FM(trunk) has potential importance to evaluate trunk obesity. We sought to evaluate the correlation and predication of FM(trunk) with five anthropometric indices in Chinese females.

Methods and results: A sample of 850 China females aged 20-40 years were recruited and divided into four age groups with a 5-year range in each group. Five anthropometric indices were measured or calculated. FM(trunk) in kg was measured using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis were performed to develop prediction equations. There was an increasing trend of FM(trunk) and five anthropometric indices in successively older age groups. Four formed principal components (PCs) interpreted over 99% of the total variation of five relative anthropometric indices in all age groups. Regression analyses showed that four PCs combined explained a greater variance (R(2)=45.2-81.6%) in FM(trunk) than did each of the five indices alone (R(2)=2.4-72.2%).

Conclusions: Our results suggested that there is an increasing trend of FM(trunk) and five anthropometric indices with aging; that age obviously influences the relationship of FM(trunk) and the anthropometric indices studied; and that the accuracy of predicting the FM(trunk) using five anthropometric indices combined is greater than using the five indices alone.