Comparison between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and skinfolds thickness in assessing body fat in anorexia nervosa before and after weight restoration.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correspondencebetween body fat mass composition (percentage) measured with dual-energy X-rayabsorptiometry (DXA) and estimated by means of skinfold thicknesses (ST)measurement in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), before and after weight gain.METHODS: Percentage body fat (%BF) was measured with DXA and estimated by STmeasurements using Siri, Brozek, and Heyward equations in 27 adult patients with AN before and after weight gain (pre- and post-treatment) achieved with inpatienttreatment and in 42 healthy age-matched controls. RESULTS: Due to Lohman criteriaand Bland Altman plot there is no correspondence between the %BF measured withDXA and the %BF estimated by predictive equations based on ST measurements inpatients with AN before and after weight gain, with the exception of Brozekequation which showed a mild agreement in pre-treatment AN. However, acorrespondence was observed between the two procedures in healthy controls.CONCLUSIONS: Our data supporting the use of ST measurements do not appear to bean alternative to DXA in estimating body fat percentage, before and after weight gain in patients with AN.