Validity of Plastic Skinfold Caliper Measurements

Document Type

Article

Authors

L A. Léger, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
J Lambert, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
P Martin, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

Abstract

The Ross (R) plastic caliper scale (y) systematically overestimates the true thickness (x): y = 1.148 X +0.112, r = 0.999. The Harpenden (H) ealiper scale was accurate.The jaw pressure of the Ross caliper (X± SD = 12.0 ± 0.9 g/mm2) overestimated the Harpenden pressure (7.95 ±0.2 g/mm2), compensating somewhat the scale error of the Ross caliper. For instance, there was practically no difference between calculated fat percentage (16.5 ±5.1 and 16.8 ± 5.4% for H and R, r = 0.995, n =30). The McGaw (M) and the Ross plastic calipers gave almost identical results for fat percentage (18.4 ± 4.7 and 18.3 ± 4.7% for M and R, r = 0.993, n = 20). It is thus concluded that the Ross and McGaw plastic adipometers yield valid results.

Recommended Citation

Léger, L A.; Lambert, J; and Martin, P (1982) "Validity of Plastic Skinfold Caliper Measurements," Human Biology: Vol. 54: Iss. 4, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol54/iss4/3