Prediction of body composition by age, height, weight, and skinfold thickness in normal adults

Abstract

In order to establish an easy and reliable method for estimating body composition, the lean body mass (LBM) and the fat mass (FM) were measured in vivo in 228 normal adults (130 women and 98 men) using dual photon (153Gd) absorptiometry. In addition, skinfold thickness was measured at two sites in each subject. Multiple regression equations of LBM and FM based on age, height, and weight were computed (r = .86 to .95, SEE = 2.1 to 2.9 kg). These correlations were only slightly improved in men, but not in women, when the results of the skinfold measurements were included in the calculations. We conclude that LBM and FM can be estimated in normal adults from age, height, and weight with a predictive error below 3 kg.