DIFFERENCE OF HYDROSTATIC WEIGHTING AND SKINFOLD METHODS IN DETERMINATON OF BODY FAT IN CHINESE ADULTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Body fat content can be determined by Hydrostatic weighing method and skin fold measurement. The former is the most accurate and is thought as “golden Standard”, while the later is an easy and simple way. Measurement of body fat content using skin fold method is by calculation based on the measured skin fold. But the formulas used to calculate body fat content were developed based on the studies in foreigners. We hypothesized that there was significant difference in the body fat content of Chinese determined by hydrostatic weighing and skin fold methods in which the formula was from the studies in foreigners. The formula developed based on the study in foreigners might not be suitable in the determination of body fat content in Chinese.