Validity of anthropometric percent fat prediction equations for use with pregnant women

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity of five different skinfold prediction equation for use in forecasting the percent body fat of pregnant women. Twenty-one pregnant women underwent hydrostatic and skinfold thickness determinations of percent body fat at 6–10, 16, and 28 weeks of gestation. The correlations between hydrostatic and anthropometric determinations of percent body fat were high during the three test periods (r= .78 to r = .89). The slopes of the line of best fit between the criterion (hydrostatic weighing) and predicted variable (prediction equation) decreased across pregnancy. The anthropometric prediction equations tended to overestimate percent body fat changes in comparison to the hydrostatically determined percent body fat changes. Skinfold thickness measurements can be used as a prepregnancy aid in determining recommended weight gain during pregnancy and as a measure of subcutaneous fat status during pregnancy. However, anthropometric prediction equations should not be used during the later stages of pregnancy to estimate percent fat or percent fat changes.