Njoku, C. O.; Obasi, A. F.; Okposhi, F. T.; Anwara, C. E. & Stewart, A. D.

Simple, inexpensive, safe, reliable and accurate methods are suitable for routine check of body composition. This study aimed to establish that a novel ultrasound can accurately quantify subcutaneous fat at different locations of the body, and using air displacement plethysmorgraphy (Bod pod) as a reference can predict body fat. A sample of 91 adults (58 males and 33 females), age 18 – 44 y was recruited for the research. All participants took part in the Bod pod measurements. Each participant’s body mass was obtained using Bod pod system electronic scale. Each participant was landmarked with a demographic pencil on the 9 selected sites on the right side of the body. Each site was scanned using an ultrasound scanner and flat 10 MHz probe. The air displacement plethysmorgraphy quantified the fat mass in kg and %fat of the participants. The ultrasound quantified fat depth at each site both with connective tissue interspersed and without connective tissue. Lateral Thigh had greatest fat depth while Brachioradialis had the least fat depth. Females had greater mean SAT depth than males at all the sites for both included and excluded connective tissue. Ultrasound fat depth for each region both including and excluding connective tissue, with a gender term to account for male/female differences was used to predict %fat from the Bod pod determination using Stepwise linear regression. Body fat can be predicted in a mixed sample with high accuracy. The exclusion of imbedded connective tissue and removal of compression may make ultrasound approach more valid.

KEY WORDS: Body fat; Ultrasound; Subcutaneous fat; Air displacement plethysmorgraphy.

NJOKU, C. O.; OBASI, A. F.; OKPOSHI, F. T.; ANWARA, C. E. & STEWART, A. D. A novel ultrasound analytical approach: A tool for fat patterning and prediction of body fat. Int. J. Morphol., 43(1):175-181, 2025.