Body Fat Study
Relationship of Body Composition to Body-Fatness
Estimation in Japanese University Students
Body Fat Study - Aim
To examine the relationship between self-estimated whole body size and
fatness and whole body and regional composition, and the relationship
between self-estimated whole body fatness and self-estimated regional
fatness in Japanese university students.
Body Fat Study - Research Methods
This was a cross-sectional study using Japanese university students (110
men and 79 women). The percentage of body fat, fat mass (FM), and fat-free
mass (FFM) were measured by underwater weighing and used as body composition
variables. Subcutaneous fat thicknesses were determined at seven sites
by ultrasonography to estimate regional body composition, and six circumferences
and four breadths to estimate regional size. Relative body size and fatness
were self-estimated using a questionnaire.
Body Fat Study - Results
Only women tended to estimate themselves as being fatter than they actually
were. Self-estimated body fatness moderately correlated with the percentage
of body fat FM, and body mass index. After adjusting for the percentages
of body fat and FM, self-estimated fatness correlated with body mass index.
Among self-estimated regional fatness, self-estimated abdominal fatness
had the strongest correlation with self-estimated whole body fatness in
both genders.
Body Fat Study - Issues
The low correlation between estimated and actual body fatness in both
genders indicates that Japanese university students, especially women,
inaccurately estimate their percentage of body fat. In fact, both men
and women primarily estimate their whole body fatness by body weight relative
to height.
Source: National Institute of Health and
Nutrition, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. 2002
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