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Skinfold measurements and bio impedance analysis (BIA) are used as measures of
obesity in other countries. Thus, this study focuses on body fat assessments in a
rural Sri Lankan population as there are very limited data on these populations.
Objective of this study was to compare body fat percentages (%BF) assessed using
Skinfold method and BIA. method among non-diabetic (n=25) and type 2 diabetic
(n=25) females in Elehera divisional secretariat area (age range:-30-50 years,
BMInon-diabetcic=23.7 Kgm'2 , BMlDiabetic=25.3 Kgm'2 , duration of diabetes:- 3 to 5
years) and identify the association of %BF measured by both methods with IR. Ten
hour fasting blood samples were collected to assess the fasting blood glucose level
and insulin level. Height, weight and skinfold measurement were taken. Body
density was calculated using Jackson and Pollock 7-site skinfold equation for
females. %BFskin-foid was calculated using Siri equation (% BF = (495 / Body
Density) - 450). %BFbia was assessed using Bio impedance analyzer. IR was
calculated using HOMA-ER. (homeostasis model assessment) equation. In both
groups %BFsidn-foid values were significantly lower compared to %BFbia values
(%BFSkm fold— 27.66, 26.82 and %BF bia= 34.54, 33.12 respectively among diabetics
and non-diabetics, p=<0.05)). However, both measures strongly correlated with
each other within the same groups [ rdiabetic = 0.734 (p=0.000), rDOn-diabetic = 0.644
(p=0.001)]. Only HOMA-IR showed a significant difference between the two
groups. Insulin resistance of only non-diabetic group showed statistically significant
correlation with %BFskinfoid and %BFbia, with %BFSkmfoid showing the strongest
correlation. As %BF values by the two methods were significantly different, it is
necessary to validate and derive the cut-offs of both methods to determine the most
suitable method for Sri Lankan population. However, as %BFSkinfoid showed the
strongest correlation with IR it can be used as a more practical method in risk 1
assessment in non-diabetic population
