Utilidade de equações antropométricas na determinação do percentual de gordura corporal

Abstract

The epidemic of obesity is of great concern due to drastic consequences for public health. For a diagnosis that helps to identify health problems related to obesity, it becomes necessary to use some method of evaluation. Some equations for estimation of body fat percentage (BF%) stand out for presenting great facility in their use such as those developed by Deurenberg et al., Lean et al., Gómez-Ambrosi et al. and Bergman et al .. This study seeks to compare the anthropometric equations for estimating BF% by bioelectrical impedance (BI) in adults of both sexes. Were evaluated 535 individuals between 18 and 73 years old. The variables used in the study were height, weight, hip circumference, body mass index and BF% arrived at the equations by Deurenberg et al GC., Lean et al., Gómez-Ambrosi et al. and Bergman et al. having shown the BI, the reference method of the study. Despite all the equations show a significant difference from the BF% obtained by GC, the equations of Deurenberg et al., Lean et al. and Gómez-Ambrosi et al. showed high values of correlation and concordance in both sexes compared to the reference method adopted, as well as values of standard error of estimate considered very good, and may be useful in monitoring the body fat of individuals.