Impact of the use of different skinfold calipers for the analysis of the body composition

Abstract

With the advances in the studies of body composition, it has been observed that several factors can interfere with the estimates of relative body fat using the skinfold thicknesses method. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the use of different skinfold calipers for the analysis of body composition by skinfold thicknesses measurements. Two hundred and fifty nine male subjects (23.3 ± 2.9 years) took part of the study. Nine skinfold thicknesses were measured (abdominal, subscapular, suprailiac, triceps, biceps, midaxillary, chest, medial calf, and thigh) using the Lange (USA) and the Cescorf (Brazil) calipers with accuracy of 1.0 and 0.1 mm, respectively. Significant differences were found in the comparison between the two calipers on all the investigated skinfold thicknesses (1.8 to 31.0%) with highest values obtained by the Lange caliper (p < 0.01). When these values were applied to four different predictive equations, developed by different researchers, the body fat estimate was significantly modified (p < 0.01), resulting in differences of 5.2 to 6.9%. Results indicate that the use of different skinfold calipers may maximize the errors of estimation produced by different predictive equations used for the analysis of body composition.

Secular trends for skinfolds differ from those for BMI and waist circumference among adults examined in NHANES from 1988–1994 through 2009–20101–3

“…For example, examinations conducted in 1988–1994 and subsequent studies have used Holtain calipers, but earlier studies used Lange calipers (7, 42). Inter-caliper differences in skinfold values have been well documented (14–16, 43), with values from Holtain calipers being ~2–5 mm (mean) lower (16, 17). All 7 examinations in the current analysis used Holtain calipers and followed similar protocols (44, 45), but there were some differences.…”

“…Despite the strong association between skinfold thicknesses and more accurate estimates of body fatness (10–12), it can be difficult to standardize these measurements, particularly in long-term studies in which measurements are made by different observers (13) and calipers (14, 15). For example, whereas skinfold measurements in national surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics before 1988 were obtained with the use of Lange calipers, studies since then have been made with Holtain calipers that can lead to values that are up to 2–5 mm lower (16, 17).…”

Association between body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness as predictor of health status in schoolchildren

“…The CSC presents identical design and mobility to the Harpenden model, provides a pressure of approximately 10 g/mm 2 , measures to an accuracy of 0.1 mm, up to a jaw width of 88 mm. 7 Skinfolds considered for the study were: triceps and subscapularis. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as the ratio of the body mass (kg) and the squared height (m 2 ).…”

Facial Lipoatrophy and the Place of Ultrasound

“…Furthermore, results obtained by different observers may be difficult to compare because subtle differences in technique may translate into significant variations in measurements 41 . Recent research has also found significant differences between skinfold thickness measurements according to the type of calipers used (variation of 1.8–31.0%, depending on the site of measurement; p <.01) 42 …”