Individual Differences of Ultrasound Assessment of Subcutaneous Fat: Effects of Body Position

Document Type

Article

Authors

Frank I. Katch, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Abstract

The present study evaluated the reliability and effects of body position for 7 ultra­sound (US) measurements of subcutaneous fat made in the standing and lying positions. Triplicate measures were made at each site with an A-scan portable US meter on 4 test days in 30 college women. Reliability across days for the lying and standing measures was significant at p < .01 (range of r from .78 to .97). A repeated measures ANOVA for trials and days for lying and standing was non-significant. The inter-correlations between the lying and standing US scores ranged from r = .89 (scapula) to r = .98 (thigh). All of the standard errors of measurement (Senieas) for each US site were less than 1 mm (average = 0.8 mm). There was little relationship between the US scores and the magnitude of the Semeas (r = ~-27 for standing and r = —.29 for lying). The high intra-trial and inter-day reliabilities, coupled with no significant F-ratios between trials or days, demonstrates the presence of stable individual differences and reproducibility of the 7 US measurements. Because there was no positional effect (lying versus standing), it does not matter which method of measurement is used.

Recommended Citation

Katch, Frank I. (1983) "Individual Differences of Ultrasound Assessment of Subcutaneous Fat: Effects of Body Position," Human Biology: Vol. 55: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol55/iss4/7