Comparative Analysis Of Skinfoldmeasurements Between Body Sides In Young Adults Of Both Genders

Body composition assessment is crucial for health and fitness evaluations, with skinfold thickness measurements offering valuable insights. PURPOSE: This study investigates skinfold measurements' comparative analysis between the left and right sides in young adults, aiming to determine if significant local body composition variations exist that could hinder skinfold thickness assessment. METHODS: The Jackson-Pollock 5-site equation, including abdominal, triceps, suprailiac, subscapular, thigh, and 7-site equation, encompassing chest, midaxillary, triceps, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac, and thigh were used to determine percent body fat (%BF). Gender-specific %BF equations were employed based on skinfold measurements and age. Skinfold thickness was measured using a digital scientific adipometer on a convenience sample of university students. Paired t-tests and Bland-Altman analyses assessed agreement between measurements from different sites. Data was reported as mean difference (MD), 95%CI, limits of agreement (LoA), and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were conducted using R software. RESULTS: Gender-specific differences in anthropometric measures were observed. Paired t-tests revealed no significant differences between left and right %BF for Jackson-Pollock 7-site in females (p = 0.836) and males (p = 0.500). However, a significant difference was found in %BF for Jackson-Pollock 5-site in females (p = 0.018), but not in males (p = 0.903). Bland-Altman analyses showed acceptable agreement for %BF Jackson-Pollock 7-site in females (MD = 0.07; LoA = -1.55,1.69) and relatively good agreement for %BF Jackson-Pollock 7-site in males (MD = -0.18; LoA = -2.72, 2.36). For %BF Jackson-Pollock 5-site, females exhibited moderate to wide agreement (MD = 2.20; LoA = -1.32,5.72), while males showed relatively good agreement (MD = -0.03; LoA = -2.37,2.31). CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of considering gender-specific variations in skinfold measurements and affirm the utility of Jackson-Pollock equations in assessing %BF across different body sites among young adults. This study offers key insights into body composition within this population, indicating its potential relevance for diverse demographics groups. CIAFEL/FCT/UIDB/00617/2020; PTDC/DTP-DES/0968/2014; SFRH/BD/117622/2016; SFRH/BD/146976/2019 and UI/BD/150673/2020