Comparison of body compositional indices assessed by underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance and anthropometry in Indonesian adolescent girls

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of bioelectric impedance analysis and anthropometry to assess percentage body fat (BF %) against underwater weighing (UW). DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross sectional study, 102 girls, aged 11-15, were recruited from two Junior High Schools in Jakarta. MEASUREMENTS: Measurements of percent-age body fat (BF%) using underwater weighing (UW), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), Tanita BIA, body mass index (BMI) and skinfold equations. RESULTS: Correlation between different methods was significant (p < 0.001). The mean difference of BF % from BIA, Tanita, BMI and skinfold compared to UW were 1.87 +/- 3.14, -3.46 +/- 3.28, 1.57 +/- 2.90 and -0.360 +/- 3.09, respectively. Assessments between UW and other methods were significantly different (p < 0.0001) except for skinfolds (p = 0.3031). CONCLUSION: The results between UW and other methods was significantly different, except for skinfolds. There was overestimation and underestimation of BF%. The agreement between skinfold measurement and underwater weighing was also influenced by menarche status.