EQUATIONS FOR ESTIMATING PERCENTAGE OF BODY-FAT IN CHILDREN 10-14-YEARS-OLD

Measurements of the percentage of body fat (derived by underwater weighing), height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness were determined for a volunteer sample of 214 children, 10-14 years old. The bivariate correlations, by sex, of percentage of body fat with five obesity indices are highest with the triceps skinfold and least with weight-height. Five sets of equations are presented for predicting percentage of body fat based on measurements of either height and weight, triceps skinfold, or height, weight, and triceps skinfold. Cumulative frequency distributions of the percentage of body fat (based on height, weight, and triceps skinfold) are shown by race and sex for a total community of 10- to 14-year olds. © 1979 International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.