Healthy percentage body fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index

Gallagher, Dympna; Heymsfield, Steven B.; Heo, Moonseong; Jebb, Susan A.; Murgatroyd, Peter R.; Sakamoto, Yoichi

doi:10.1093/ajcn/72.3.694

Cited by 1,638 publications

(1,391 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In particular, a prediction formula developed on one ethnic or age group may not be accurate when applied to another ethnic or age group. For example, in a recent study we observed signi®cant differences in body fat, after controlling ®rst for age, gender, and body mass index, between Caucasian subjects in the USA and UK, and Asian subjects in Japan (Gallagher et al, 2000). Others have made similar observations when carrying out cross-ethnic andaor cross-country studies (Roche, 1995).…”

Section: Descriptivesupporting

confidence: 56%

Anthropometry and methods of body composition measurement for research and field application in the elderly

Nuñez

Testolin

et al. 2000

Eur J Clin Nutr

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Evaluation of body composition is important in the study of human energy and protein metabolism as methods are available for quantifying energy stores and protein content at a single point in time; energy ± protein balance can be monitored over time; and dynamic measures of energy and protein metabolism can be referenced to body mass and related measurable components for between-individual comparisons. This review emphasizes the need for considering subject age when developing body composition component prediction models that are applied in elderly populations. An overview of body composition research is provided that emphasizes compartment and level de®nitions and interrelations. Two broad method categories, mechanistic and descriptive, are then critically examined in relation to their role in energy-protein metabolism and aging research. Our collective review indicates that all major body composition components are now measurable using one or more methods that are based on non age-dependent assumptions. We also found that some methods, particularly descriptive ®eld methods (eg anthropometry), may be based on age-sensitive assumptions and measurements and suggestions for future development of these methods are provided. Lastly, as body composition differences between races, cultures, and countries are now recognized, it would be useful to create international cooperative groups with the aim of developing widely applicable descriptive ®eld methods based on simple available techniques such as anthropometry and bioimpedance analysis. Science is fundamentally an exercise in measurement.' Dr Harold Varmus, NIH Director, 1999. OverviewEvaluation of human body composition relates to the topic of this workshop in two respects: methods are available for quantifying energy stores and protein content at a single point in time and energy ± protein balance can be monitored over time; and dynamic measures of energy and protein metabolism can be referenced to body mass and related measurable components for between-individual comparisons. The speci®c aim of this review is to emphasize the need for considering subject age when developing body composition component prediction models that are applied in elderly populations.

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Section: Descriptivesupporting

confidence: 56%

Anthropometry and methods of body composition measurement for research and field application in the elderly

Nuñez

Testolin

et al. 2000

Eur J Clin Nutr

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“…However, the latter was a nonlinear correlation. Gallagher et al (2000) also showed a similar curvilinear correlation between %BF obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method and BMI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Comparison between bioelectrical impedance analysis and body mass index methods in determination of obesity prevalence in Ahvazi women

Amani

2006

Eur J Clin Nutr

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Background: Obesity has an increasing trend worldwide. Recently, application of body mass index (BMI) cutoff points of obesity classification for all population studies has been questioned. On the other hand, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a safe, accurate, reliable and inexpensive method for screening the overweight and obesity in such studies. Objectives: There were three objectives followed in this research: to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in married women using BMI and BIA methods; to evaluate the correlation between these methods; and to compare the women's obesity degrees according to their educational levels. Method: Six hundred and thirty-seven healthy married women 18-40 years aged, who had referred to 14 health centers of the city of Ahvaz (center of Khouzestan province, south-west of Iran) were recruited in a cross-sectional design, and their socioeconomic and anthropometric questionnaires were completed by the trained students. Body fat percent (%BF) and body fat mass (BFM) were measured using BIA method. BMI425 and 430 kg/m 2 were used as criteria for determining the overweight and obese women, respectively. %BF435% was regarded as cutoff for defining obesity. Results: Mean age7s.d. of the women was 26.975.8 years and majority of them were housewives with secondary educational level. Their BMI, %BF, waist-to-hip ratio, and mid-upper arm circumference means were: 25.9(4.7) kg/m 2 , 27.6(7.3)%, 0.75(0.08) and 27.9(3.9) cm, respectively. Central obesity was prevalent in 21.2% of the subjects. Prevalence of obesity determined by BMI and BIA methods was 18.3 and 15.5% and women within normal ranges were detected in 44.7 and 46% of the subjects by these methods, respectively. However, thin (underweight) women were 2.6 and 14.6% of the subjects studied, respectively. About one half of the women were overweight or obese. BMI was statistically correlated with BFM (r ¼ 0.86; Po0.0001) and %BF (r ¼ 0.77; Po0.0001). Women with higher educational levels had lower body fat percentage and BMI than the other subjects with lower degrees (Po0.05). Conclusion: Obesity and overweight is prevalent in about one-half of the Ahvazian married women and more than one-fifth of the subjects have central obesity. BIA and BMI methods can similarly detect the normal and obese married women but they are different in determining the underweight female subjects. Women with higher educational grades tend to have lower BMI levels.

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“…9 and WGOC. 15,16 DXA-overweight and -obesity was defined as % BFX34 and 40% in middle-aged women as suggested by Gallagher et al 23 …”

Section: Body Fat Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity of body mass index and waist circumference in the classification of obesity as compared to percent body fat in Chinese middle-aged women

Chen

Lam

et al. 2006

Int J Obes

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Objective: To evaluate the validity of currently recommended obesity cutoffs of body mass index (BMI, in kg/m 2 ) and waist circumference (WC, in cm) for Asians by the WHO/IASO/IOTF and for Chinese by the Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) using the percentage body fat (%BF)-obesity criteria. Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects: A total of 1122 community-based Hong Kong Chinese women aged between 41 and 63 years. Measurements: Total %BF and percent truncal fat (%TF) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometric indices were measured using standard methods. Results: Regression analyses showed that the BMI cutoffs of 23, 24, 25, and 28 kg/m 2 corresponded to the %BF of 34.8, 35.9, 36.9 and 39.5%, and the 80 cm WC corresponded to 34% TF, respectively. Compared with the %BF obesity cutoff (X40%), the WHO/IASO/IOTF BMI-obesity criterion (X25) shows a good sensitivity (75%) and specificity (71%); and the WGOC criterion (BMIX28) had a low sensitivity (41%) but an excellent specificity (93%), respectively. Corresponding to the BMI cutoffs of 23, 24, 25 and 28 kg/m 2 , the %BF cutoffs associated with peak k statistic were 33, 34, 35 and 40%, and the relevant %TF linked with 80 cm WC was 33%, respectively. Conclusion: BMI and WC have a good accuracy in the prediction of obesity. Our findings suggest that the WGOC BMI cutoffs are appropriate, but 80 cm of WC is a very rigorous cutoff for this population when using the criteria of 34 and 40% of body fat or truncal fat for overweight and obesity.

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Healthy percentage body fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index

Cited by 1,638 publications

References 26 publications

Anthropometry and methods of body composition measurement for research and field application in the elderly

Anthropometry and methods of body composition measurement for research and field application in the elderly

Comparison between bioelectrical impedance analysis and body mass index methods in determination of obesity prevalence in Ahvazi women

Validity of body mass index and waist circumference in the classification of obesity as compared to percent body fat in Chinese middle-aged women

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