Anthropometric equations for estimating abdominal adipose tissue distribution in women

OBJECTIVES: (1) to develop multiple regression equations for predicting computed tomography (CT) derived intra-abdominal (IAF), subcutaneous (SCF) and total (TOTF = IAF + SCF) abdominal adipose tissue areas from anthropometric measures and (2) to validate the equations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: 204 healthy Caucasian females subjects with a large range of age (17-76 years) and percentage body fat (8.8%-48.1%). Fifty-one subjects served as an independent sub-sample for the validation of the equations. MEASUREMENTS: Various fatness and fat distribution parameters (hydrodensitometry, single CT scan, skinfold and circumference measures). RESULTS: Multiple regression equations were developed to estimate IAF, SCF and TOTF. R(2) for IAF, SCF and TOTF was 0.75, 0.81 and 0.85, respectively. The equations were validated on an independent sub-sample of 51 subjects, All three equations met validation criteria with R(2) validations of 0.79, 0.71 and 0.84 for IAF, SCF and TOTF, respectively. CONCLUSION: These equations might be used as an inexpensive estimation of IAF, SCF and TOTF in adult Caucasian females varying greatly in age and percentage body fat.