Equation to Fat Percentage Estimation in Women with Reduced Bone Mineral Density

The measurement of body fat is a way to obtain information about the characteristics that can lead to a framework of certain diseases. Thus, women in postmenopausal period experience significant variations in the body composition and fat distribution.

To develop an equation to estimation of the body fat percentage in women with osteopenia / osteoporosis based on anthropometric measurements easily obtainable.

The sample consisted of 74 women participating in the study group of the Physical Exercise Program for Osteoporosis Federal Technological University of Paraná, all in postmenopausal period and with osteopenia or osteoporosis. It evaluated body composition and bone mineral density by absorptiometry Radiological Dual Energy (DXA), anthropometry and body circumferences (waist, abdomen and hips), and nutritional status by the Body Mass Index (BMI) as the World Health Organization classification.

The sample can be characterized by the following average data: age of 59.32 ± 6.96, 27.14 ± 3 BMI 90, Waist Hip Ratio of 0.85 ± 0.08 and Body fat percentage 40.35 ± 4.04. The proposed equation was Body Fat Percentage (BFP) = 14,419 + (0.405 x BMI) + (0.147 x HC) using only two predictor variables, BMI and hip circumference (PQ).

The standard error of estimate of the proposed equation was 2.89 (R² = 0.501) can be considered low average values for the percentage of fat in this population, suggesting that the equation can be used to estimate the percentage of body fat in postmenopausal women.