Wright et al developed equations for predicting the percent body fat in adults based on anthropometric measurements. This has been used by the U.S. Marine Corps for evaluating its personnel.
Parameters:
(1) gender
(2) abdomen circumference at the level of the umbilicus in centimeters (abdomen II)
(3) neck circumference in centimeters below the larynx (Adam's apple)
(4) biceps circumference in centimeters (arm abducted at 90° to body with hand supinated upwards; measurement taken at largest part of the biceps/triceps group)
(5) forearm circumference in centimeters (arm abducted at 90° to body with hand supinated upwards; measurement taken at largest part of the forearm)
(6) thigh circumference in centimeters (taken just below the gluteal fold with the subject standing evenly on both legs)
male percent body fat =
= (0.740 * (abdomen II)) - (1.249 * (neck circumference)) + 0.528
female percent body fat =
= (1.051 * (biceps circumference)) - (1.522 * (forearm circumference)) - (0.879 * (neck circumference)) + (0.326 * (abdomen II)) + (0.597 * (thigh circumference)) + 0.707
As used by the Marine Corps, points are assigned for each circumference then summed and a correction factor is subtracted to get the percent body fat (see page 334, Appendix B, Marriott and Grumstrup-Scott).
Performance:
• For males: R = 0.81, SEE = 3.67
• For females: R = 0.73, SEE = 4.11
Limitations:
• Some of the sites do not appear to be well-defined, so there could be inter-observer variability.
