Differences between Four Skinfold Calipers in the Assessment of Adipose Tissue in Young Adult Healthy Population

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 14; no. 10; p. 2085
• Main Authors: Esparza-Ros, Francisco, Moreira, Ana Catarina, Vaquero-Cristóbal, Raquel, Barrigas, Carlos, Albaladejo-Saura, Mario, Vieira, Filomena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16-05-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; anthropometry; Body composition; Body fat; Body mass; Body mass index; Body measurements; Body weight; Cadavers; Calipers; Cross-Sectional Studies; fat mass; Female; Females; health; Humans; Hydration; Male; Manufacturing; Methods; Nutritional status; Obesity; Population studies; Sexes; Skinfold Thickness; Young Adult; Young adults; health; body composition; anthropometry; fat mass
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu14102085

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of four different skinfold calipers, as well as to establish the differences between them in a healthy young adult population. Methods: The present study followed a cross-sectional design, including 138 participants, with 69 males (21.46 ± 2.52 years) and 69 females (22.19 ± 2.85 years). The measurement protocol included basic measurements of body mass and stretch stature and eight skinfolds with a Harpenden, Holtain, Slim Guide, and Lipowise. The ∑6 and ∑8 skinfolds and fat mass were calculated. The order in which the skinfold calipers were used was randomized. Results: No significant differences were found in either the Σ6 and Σ8 skinfolds or masses and fat percentages calculated with the skinfolds obtained with the different calipers (p > 0.05), and the inclusion of the covariates of sex, BMI, and hydration status of the participants showed no effect on the differences. The Bland−Altman test showed significant differences between the calipers (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It has been observed that the analyzed calipers have shown validity for the assessment of adiposity-related variables in a male and female sample of non-overweight, young healthy adults, but they are not interchangeable with each other when the assessment is meant to be compared over time or with other samples.