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.