PREDICTION OF PERCENTAGE BODY-FAT FROM ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS - COMPARISON OF NEW-ZEALAND EUROPEAN AND POLYNESIAN YOUNG-WOMEN

The prediction of total body fat from simple anthropometric measuremen ts was examined in 42 white (New Zealand European) and 40 Polynesian w omen aged 18-27 y. Percentage body fat (%BF) was determined from measu rements of total body water (TBW) by O-18 dilution. Mean(+/-SD) body m ass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) averaged 29.2 +/- 7.9 (range: 16.5-48.0) f or the New Zealand European group and 31.2 +/- 7.9 (range: 19.8-51.8) for the Polynesian group. %BF calculated from TBW was similar in the t wo groups (40.5 +/- 9.9% for the New Zealand European compared with 39 .1 +/- 7.5% for the Polynesian group). BMI was significantly correlate d with height in the Polynesian group but not in the New Zealand Europ ean group. The relation between BMI and %BF was curvilinear for both g roups. At a fixed %BF, BMI was higher in the Polynesian group than in the New Zealand European group. A BMI of 30 for the New Zealand Europe an group corresponded to a BMI of 34 for the Polynesian group at an eq uivalent %BF (42%). Prediction equations for %BF developed from skinfo ld thicknesses or girth measurements were ethnicity dependent. We conc lude that the BMI criterion for obesity in whites requires revision fo r use in Polynesians.