Which Body Density Equations Calculate Body Fat Percentage Better in Olympic Wrestlers?-Comparison Study with Air Displacement Plethysmography

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DEVRİM LANPİR A., Badem E. A., IŞIK H., Cakar A. N., Kabak B., Akinoglu B., ...More

LIFE-BASEL, vol.11, no.7, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 11 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/life11070707
  • Journal Name: LIFE-BASEL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: BOD POD, anthropometry, body composition, fat mass, wrestling, skinfolds, RAPID WEIGHT-LOSS, CROSS-VALIDATION, MINIMUM WEIGHT, GENERALIZED EQUATIONS, FIELD METHODS, FREE MASS, PREDICTION, SPORTS, REVISION
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Although skinfold-derived equations seem to be practical for field application in estimating body fat percentage (BF%) and minimum body mass in Olympic wrestlers, prediction equations applied first need to be cross-validated in Olympic wrestlers to define the best prediction equation. This study aimed to evaluate the most accurate field method to predict BF% in Olympic wrestlers compared to BF% estimated by air displacement plethysmography (ADP). Sixty-one male (body mass 72.4 +/- 13.5 kg; height 170.3 +/- 7.0 cm; body mass index (BMI) 24.9 +/- 3.5 kg.m(-2); BF% 8.5 +/- 4.9%) and twenty-five female wrestlers (body mass 60.3 +/- 9.9 kg; height 161.3 +/- 7.1 cm; BMI 23.1 +/- 2.5 kg.m(-2); BF% 18.7 +/- 4.7%) undertook body composition assessments including ADP and nine-site skinfold measurements. Correlations, bias, limits of agreement, and standardized differences between alterations in BF% measured by ADP and other prediction equations were evaluated to validate measures, and multiple regression analyses to develop an Olympic wrestlers-specific prediction formula. The Stewart and Hannan equation for male wrestlers and the Durnin and Womersley equation for female wrestlers provided the most accurate BF% compared to the measured BF% by ADP, with the lowest bias and presented no significant differences between the measured and predicted BF%. A new prediction equation was developed using only abdominal skinfold and sex as variables, predicting 83.2% of the variance. The findings suggest the use of the new wrestler-specific prediction equation proposed in the study as a valid and accurate alternative to ADP to quantify BF% among Olympic wrestlers.