Abstract

Introduction: Fat percentage is determinant in primary care evaluation. Objective: To compare regional anthropometric equations that predict body fat percentage (%BF) with foreign equations and to propose percentiles to assess %BF in children and adolescents in the Maule region, Chile. Methodology: A cross-sectional (correlational) study was carried out in schoolchildren from the Maule region (Chile). We studied 1,126 schoolchildren (588 males and 538 females) with an age range from 6.0 to 17.9 years. Age, weight, height, abdomen circumference, and two skinfolds (tricipital and subscapular) were evaluated. Body mass index (BMI), Ponderal Index (PI), Height-Waist Index (WHI), %GC were calculated by two regional equations and three foreign equations (Boileau, Slaughter and Deuremberg). Results: The Chilean regional equations presented values of 26.2±7.1% WC in males, while in females they reflected 33.6±4.7% WC (p<0.05). The foreign equations reflected similar values in males, i.e., 19.3%±6.9%GC (Boileau), 20.1±8.7%GC (Slaughter) and 20.6±5.3%GC (Deuremberg), whereas, in females it was 25.9±6.1%GC (Boileau), 25.2±8.8%GC (Slaughter) and 25.0±5.3%GC (Deuremberg). There were significant differences between regional equations with foreign equations in both sexes (p<0.05). The calculated percentiles were: (P3, P5, P10, P15, P25, P50, P75, P85, P90, P95 and P97). The %GC values in women at advanced ages (close to adulthood) ranged from 32 to 34%, and in men from 19 to 20%. Conclusion: It was shown that the three foreign equations of Boileau, Slaughter and Deuremberg are not applicable to a sample of Chilean schoolchildren. In addition, percentiles were developed using anthropometric equations to estimate %BF from 6 to 17.9 years of age.