Gallagher et al developed equations for estimating the percent body fat in adult Blacks and Whites. These can be calculated without expensive equipment and are suitable for epidemiologic studies. The authors are from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands and the National Institute of Aging.
Patient selection: male or female black or white adults from 20 to 94 years
Parameters:
(1) body mass index in kilograms per square meter
(2) age in years
(3) gender
(4) race
Parameter
Finding
Points
gender
male
1
female
0
race
black
1
white
0
body fat as percent of body weight independent of race =
= (1.46 * (BMI)) + (0.12 * (age in years)) - (11.61 * (points for gender)) - 10.02
body fat as percent of body weight including race =
= (1.47 * (BMI)) + (0.12 * (age in years)) - (11.61 * (points for gender)) - (0.22 * (points for race)) - 10.13
lean body mass as percent of body weight =
= 100 - (body fat as percent of body weight)
Performance: Both equations had a variance r-squared of 67%.
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