The Validity Of 7-Site Skinfold Measurements Taken By Exercise Science Students

Abstract

Skinfold (SKF) measurement is arguably the most ubiquitous method of estimating percent body fat (%BF) because of cost, ease, and feasibility. However, it is unknown how accurately novice exercise science students measure SKF thickness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity with which exercise science students in an Exercise Physiology course measured skinfold thickness and estimated percent body fat (%BF) when compared to a skilled technician. Twenty-three novice undergraduate students were afforded both verbal measurement instruction and visual measurement demonstration and, subsequently, assessed SKF thicknesses of a male and female testee. %BF was calculated using measurements obtained by the skilled technician and students. Comparisons were made between measurements taken by the skilled technician and students using error, absolute error, and one sample t-tests. For the female testee, average error ranged from -0.5 mm to -4.8 mm for the 7-sites, 1.7±15.4 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and -3.7±2.6% for %BF. The average absolute error ranged from 1.2 mm to 4.9 mm for the 7-sites, 23.3±12.7 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and 3.9±2.2% for %BF. For the male testee, average error ranged from 0.0 mm to 0.9 mm for the 7-sites, 2.9±8.5 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and 0.5±1.4% for %BF. The average absolute error ranged from 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm for the 7-sites, 4.8±7.5 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and 0.8±1.2% for BF%. The one sample t-tests revealed no significant differences in the sum of 7-sites and %BF for the male model (p>0.05), but significant differences were found for the female model (p<0.05). From a practical perspective, when novice exercise science students were provided both verbal and visual instructions of SKF measurement technique, students were able to accurately assess %BF of a male testee as compared to the skilled technician. With respect to the female testee, however, students underestimated the sum of the 7 SKF sites by ~ 20 mm when compared to the skilled technician. Additional tutelage and practice may be necessary when teaching SKF measurement of females and/or individuals with higher %BF to novice undergraduate exercise science students.

Full text

Original Research
The Validity Of 7-Site Skinfold Measurements Taken By Exercise
Science Students
TIAGO V. BARREIRA†
1
, MATTHEW S. RENFROW‡
2
, WAYLAND TSEH‡
3
, and
MINSOO KANG‡
4
1
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA;
2
Taylor
University, Upland, IN, USA;
3
University of North Carolina Wilmington,
Wilmington, NC, USA;
4
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN,
USA
†Denotes graduate student author, ‡Denotes professional author
ABSTRACT
International Journal of Exercise Science 6(1) : 20-28, 2013. Skinfold (SKF)
measurement is arguably the most ubiquitous method of estimating percent body fat (%BF)
because of cost, ease, and feasibility. However, it is unknown how accurately novice exercise
science students measure SKF thickness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the
validity with which exercise science students in an Exercise Physiology course measured skinfold
thickness and estimated percent body fat (%BF) when compared to a skilled technician. Twenty-
three novice undergraduate students were afforded both verbal measurement instruction and
visual measurement demonstration and, subsequently, assessed SKF thicknesses of a male and
female testee. %BF was calculated using measurements obtained by the skilled technician and
students. Comparisons were made between measurements taken by the skilled technician and
students using error, absolute error, and one sample t-tests. For the female testee, average error
ranged from -0.5 mm to -4.8 mm for the 7-sites, 1.7±15.4 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and -3.7±2.6%
for %BF. The average absolute error ranged from 1.2 mm to 4.9 mm for the 7-sites, 23.3±12.7 mm
for the sum of 7-sites, and 3.9±2.2% for %BF. For the male testee, average error ranged from 0.0
mm to 0.9 mm for the 7-sites, 2.9±8.5 mm for the sum of 7-sites, and 0.5±1.4% for %BF. The
average absolute error ranged from 0.6 mm to 1.1 mm for the 7-sites, 4.8±7.5 mm for the sum of 7-
sites, and 0.8±1.2% for BF%. The one sample t-tests revealed no significant differences in the sum
of 7-sites and %BF for the male model (p>0.05), but significant differences were found for the
female model (p<0.05). From a practical perspective, when novice exercise science students were
provided both verbal and visual instructions of SKF measurement technique, students were able
to accurately assess %BF of a male testee as compared to the skilled technician. With respect to
the female testee, however, students underestimated the sum of the 7 SKF sites by ~ 20 mm when
compared to the skilled technician. Additional tutelage and practice may be necessary when
teaching SKF measurement of females and/or individuals with higher %BF to novice
undergraduate exercise science students.
KEY WORDS: Body composition, novice, validity, accuracy
INTRODUCTION
Body composition (BC) is an important
component of health-related physical
fitness. High levels of body fat (BF),

VALIDITY OF 7-SITE SKINFOLD MEASUREMENTS
International Journal of Exercise Science http://www.intjexersci.com
21
specifically abdominal fat, can significantly
increase risk for cardiovascular disease.
The seven-site skinfold (SKF) measurement
technique is arguably the most common
method of BF estimation. This method is
attractive because of its low relative cost
when compared to reference methods such
as hydrodensitometry, air displacement
plethysmography, and dual-energy X-ray
absorptiometry (8). SKF measurement is
quick and less invasive compared to
aforementioned reference methods which
require minimal clothing, complete
exhalation, and/or exposure to X-ray
photon. Moreover, as a field measure, SKF
technique is feasible, reliable, and valid
(14).
Although BF is commonly quantified in
health- and performance-based research,
measurement issues related to BF
assessment have been investigated for
decades (3). The validity of SKF
measurements can be affected by numerous
variables. Measurement technique,
technician experience, hydration, sex, age,
and ethnicity are significant factors when
measuring BC as demonstrated by the
numerous population-specific equations
used to calculate body density and BF (11).
Consequently, measurement technique can
be improved to reduce error. The National
Strength and Conditioning Association
(NSCA) and the American College of Sports
Medicine (ACSM) have set specific
guidelines for the SKF testing procedures
including specific locations of
measurement, number of times each site
should be measured, the acceptable margin
of error between measurements, etc. (1, 2)
Heyward and Wagner (8) suggested that
SKF technicians be meticulous in marking
anatomical landmarks, take a minimum of
two measurements, practice on over 50
clients, and be trained and mentored by
skilled technicians to improve
measurement skills.
Hume and Marfell-Jones (10) investigated
the importance of adherence to protocols by
examining the differences in SKF
measurement with a small change in the
SKF site measurement location. Using the
International Standards for Anthropometric
Assessment (12), two International Society
for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry
(ISAK)-accredited testers measured the
eight defined ISAK sites. Along with each
ISAK-defined site, eight peripheral sites 1
cm away from the defined sites were also
measured (all sites, then, assumed a 3x3
grid with the ISAK-defined site located
centrally in the grid). The results indicated
that 70% of the peripheral site
measurements were statistically different
from the ISAK-defined site measurements
and 39% were considered “non-trivial”
(Effect Sizes > .2). Hume and Marfell-Jones
(7) noted that these results reinforced the
importance of strict adherence to a proper
measurement protocol.
Previous research on SKF measurement has
uncovered many factors of reliability and
validity for this method of BF measurement
(7, 10, 11, 15, 16). However, as validation is
a continual process (18), other validity
issues may still be elucidated. Accurate
SKF measurement technique has been
investigated in testers who were well-
trained (10, 15), but the validity of SKF
measurements taken by novices is
uncertain. Because SKF measurement is
relatively inexpensive and less invasive
than other BF estimation methods (8, 15), it
is commonly taught in universities to
undergraduate students in kinesiology,

VALIDITY OF 7-SITE SKINFOLD MEASUREMENTS
International Journal of Exercise Science http://www.intjexersci.com
22
physical education, athletic training, and
Exercise Science courses. This skill of
quantifying %BF via SKF measurement
then is commonly used in fields such as
personal training and strength and
conditioning to monitor changes in BC. As
with most human measurements, proper
SKF measurement technique is a skill not
quickly or easily acquired. A clearer
understanding of the validity of novice SKF
measurements would allow for proper
feedback pertaining to the skill-
acquirement process of this measurement
technique for professors, practitioners, and
students. Therefore, the purpose of this
study was to determine the validity with
which exercise science students in an
Exercise Physiology course measured SKF
thickness and estimated %BF when
compared to a skilled technician.
METHODS
Participants
Participants were Exercise Science majors
(N = 23) enrolled in an undergraduate
exercise physiology laboratory class at a
university in the southeast United States.
They were considered novice SKF
technicians as they possessed little to no
knowledge of assessing BC via SKF
technique.
The conducted study met
ethical standards (5) and all volunteers
signed an informed consent form, approved
by the University’s Institutional Review
Board for human subject use, prior to
participation. Two participants, one female
(age = 21 years) and one male (age = 23
years), were asked to serve as testees for the
SKF measurements. Both study testees
attended all three laboratory sessions to be
measured by the novice exercise science
students.
Protocol
A skilled technician (i.e., Ph.D., ACSM and
NSCA certified) with over 20 years of
experience measuring and teaching SKF
procedures measured the SKFs of the male
and female testees for the investigation.
Once the SKF data were recorded for the
testees, the novice exercise science students
came into the laboratory to learn the SKF
measurement technique. The skilled
technician then spent the next 45 minutes
describing the location of the seven sites
verbally as well as visually locating the
seven sites on both skeleton and human
models in accordance with the guidelines
set forth by ACSM (1). Once the locations
of the SKF were explained, the skilled
technician then demonstrated the technique
to obtain a proper SKF pinch while stating:
"Firmly but gently, pinch the skin and
subcutaneous fat between the thumb, forefinger,
and middle finger. Open the skinfold caliper
and measure the skinfold approximately 1 cm
below your fingers and approximately 1 cm deep
into the skinfold. Do not release the skinfold
while taking the measurement. Once you have
obtained the skinfold measurement, release the
caliper from the skinfold. Take a minimum of 2
measurements at each site. If the measures do
not agree within 1 millimeter, subsequent
assessments should be taken until all values are
within 1 millimeter."
Upon completion of instruction, the
students exited the laboratory and waited
in a hallway. Only two students were then
allowed back into the laboratory to employ
what they had learned via locating,
measuring, and recording the SKF on the
male and female testees using a Lange
Skinfold Caliper (model 68092). Once all

VALIDITY OF 7-SITE SKINFOLD MEASUREMENTS
International Journal of Exercise Science http://www.intjexersci.com
23
data had been collected, students exited the
laboratory and two more students entered
the laboratory. This process was repeated
until all students completed the process of
locating, measuring, and recording the SKF
measurements on the testees. The above
procedures were conducted three times as
there were three separate laboratory
sessions associated with the Exercise
Physiology lecture course.
Statistical Analysis
Data analyses were performed using SPSS
(version 19.0) and Microsoft Excel 2007.
Data were analyzed separately for the male
and females testees. Descriptive statistics
were computed for all variables. First, the
number of SKF measurements taken by the
exercise science student at each site was
computed. Error and absolute error were
calculated between the SKF measurements
taken by the skilled technician and the
exercise science students. Percent BF was
computed using the skilled technician’s and
students’ measurements, and error and
absolute error were calculated between
those variables. One sample t-tests were
used to compare the mean SKF thickness
measured by the exercise science students
and the skilled technician at each site for
both testees. The Mauchly’s sphericity test
was conducted prior to further data
analysis. Repeated measures ANOVAs
were performed to assess mean difference
in absolute error among different sites for
the female and male testees’ measurements
and post hoc analyses were conducted
when appropriate. The alpha level was set
at 0.05 for ANOVAs testing and was
adjusted using bonferoni transformation for
the one sample t-tests and was set at 0.003.
RESULTS
The average number of measurements
taken by the students for each SKF site can
be found on Table 1. The students took
between two to six measurements for the
female testeee and two to four
measurements for the male testee. SKFs for
each site, sum of SKFs, %BF measured by
the skilled technician and the average SKF
for each site, sum of SKFs, and %BF
measured by the students are found in
Table 2. Sum of SKFs, and %BF measured
by the skilled technician were 95 mm,
17.8%, and 37 mm, 3.8%, for the female and
male testees, respectively. The average sum
of SKFs and %BF measured by the students
were 73±15 mm, 14.2±2.6%, and 40±8 mm,
4.2±1.3%, for the female and male testees,
respectively. For the female participant, the
average error ranged from -0.5 mm to -4.8
mm and the average absolute error ranged
from 1.2 mm to 4.9 mm for the seven sites
(see Table 3). For the male participant, the
average error ranged from 0.0 mm to 0.9
mm and the average absolute error ranged
from 0.5 mm to 1.1 mm for the seven sites
(see Table 3).
Table 1. Number of measurements taken by
students.
Site Female Male
Chest 2.3 ± 0.6 2.1 ± 0.3
Axilla 2.3 ± 0.5 2.0 ± 0.2
Triceps 2.5 ± 0.6 2.1 ± 0.3
Subscapular 2.2 ± 0.4 2.0 ± 0.2
Abdominal 2.4 ± 0.7 2.1 ± 0.3
Suprailium 2.5 ± 0.8 2.1 ± 0.3
Thigh 2.4 ± 0.5 2.2 ± 0.5
Note. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation;
two is the minimum number of measurements
possible.
The results from the one-sample t-tests
comparing the measurements assessed by

VALIDITY OF 7-SITE SKINFOLD MEASUREMENTS
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24
the students to those attained by the skilled
technician revealed that for the female
testee, the subscapula was the only
measurement that was not significantly
different from the skilled technician (t(22)=
-1.78; p = 0.09), all other measure were
significantly different (p < 0.001). In
contrast, for the male testee, the SKF
measurement taken by the students at the
suprailium was the only measurement
significantly different from the skilled
technician (t(22) = 3.40; p = 0.003), all other
measures were not significantly different (p
> 0.05).
The results for the Mauchly’s sphericity test
for the female testee indicated that the data
violated the assumption of sphericity (X2(2)
= 50.2, p < 0.001), so the F value was
corrected using the Greenhouse-Geisser
estimate. The repeated measure ANOVA
showed a significant difference in absolute
error among SKF sites, F(3.35,73.58) = 12.78,
p < 0.001. Follow up analyses of simple
effects revealed that the subscapula site had
lower absolute error compared to all other
sites (p < 0.01), and that the suprailium and
thigh had higher absolute error than all
other sites (p < 0.01) other than the
abdominal site (p > 0.05).
The results for the Mauchly’s sphericity test
for the male testee indicated that the data
violated the assumption of sphericity (X2(2)
= 69.5, p < 0.001), so the F value was
corrected using the Greenhouse-Geisser
estimate. The repeated measure ANOVA
showed no significant difference in absolute
error among SKF sites, F(2.6,57.2) = 1.28, p =
0.29.
DISCUSSION
BC is an important component of health-
related physical fitness as an undesirable
BC increases the risk for cardiovascular
disease (1). Therefore, the proper
measurement of BC, or more specifically
%BF, is essential for proper health
assessment and risk stratification. To our
knowledge, no research has been
Table 2. SKF measurements (in mm) and %BF for the male and female testees.
Female Male
S
it
e
S
t
ud
ent
s
S
k
illed
t
ec
hnic
ian
S
t
ud
ent
s
S
k
illed
t
ec
hnic
ian
Chest 5.0 ± 2.0* 8.0 4.0 ± 1.0 4.0
Axilla 7.6 ± 1.9* 10.0 5.2 ± 0.9 5.0
Triceps 14.2 ± 3.1* 17.0 5.4 ± 1.6 5.0
Subscapular 9.5 ± 1.5 10.0 7.5 ± 1.2 7.0
Abdominal 10.7 ± 3.5* 15.0 6.6 ± 2.3 6.0
Suprailium 12.2 ± 4.0* 16.0 5.9 ± 1.2* 5.0
Thigh 14.2 ± 2.8* 19.0 5.3 ± 1.3 5.0
T
o
t
al
73.3 ±
15.4
*
95.0
39.9
±
8.5
37.0
%BF
14.2 ±
2.6
*
17.8
4.2 ±
1.3
3.8
Note. * = significant different from skilled technician measure (p < 0.003)

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25
conducted on the validity of SKF at specific
sites and BF measurements taken by
novices who are learning the technique for
the first time. Therefore, the purpose of this
study was to determine how accurately
undergraduate Exercise Science majors in
an Exercise Physiology course measured
SKF thickness and estimated %BF when
compared to a skilled technician.
Measuring the SKFs of the female testee
was the most difficult for students between
the two testees which evidenced by the
higher number of measurements needed for
the female testee. With the exception of the
subscapula, the novice students had
significantly lower measurements than the
skilled technician at all sites for the female
testee. The suprailium, abdominal, and
thigh sites had a significantly greater
margin of error than most other sites.
Students were able to measure SKFs of a
lean male accurately when compared to the
skilled technician. The one sample t-tests
revealed only one SKF site (suprailium)
where the students had a slightly yet
significantly higher average measurement
compared to the skilled technician. The
students were also accurate when
compared to the skilled technician
regarding sum of SKFs and %BF estimation.
The dependence of measurement accuracy
on sex of the testee may have been due to
various factors. Clarys, Provyn, and
Marfell-Jones (4) noted that the
homogeneity of skin thickness is an
underlying assumption of the SKF
technique. Skin thickness at various sites
has not been extensively investigated, but
the sparse findings indicate that thickness is
not necessarily inconsequential. Skin
thickness could increase the difficulty of
measurement at different sites and could
contribute to the difference in error found
between males and females due to the
difference in thickness between sexes (13).
In addition, the accuracy could have been
influenced by the difference in %BF
between the testees.
Table 3. Average and absolute average error between the skilled technician measurement and t
he
students’ measurements.
Fe
m
ale
M
ale
Site Avg Error Abs Avg Error Avg Error Abs Avg Error
Ches
t
-
3.0 ±
2.0
3.2 ±
1.6
0.0 ±
1.0
0.7 ±
0.8
A
x
illa
-
2.4 ±
1.9
2.7 ±
1.4
0.2 ±
0.9
0.5 ±
0.8
T
ric
ep
s
-
2.8 ±
3.1
3.2 ±
2.7
0.4 ±
1.6
0.8 ±
1.4
S
ub
s
c
ap
ular
-
0.5 ±
1.5
1.2 ±
1.0
0.5 ±
1.2
0.7 ±
1.0
A
b
d
o
m
inal
-
4.3 ±
3.5
4.9 ±
2.5
0.6 ±
2.3
1.1 ±
2.1
S
up
railium
-
3.8 ±
4.0
4.2 ±
3.6
0.9 ±
1.2
0.9 ±
1.2
T
hig
h
-
4.8 ±
2.8
4.8 ±
2.6
0.3 ±
1.3
0.6 ±
1.2
Total -21.7 ± 15.4 23.3 ± 12.7 2.9 ± 8.5 4.8 ± 7.5
%BF -3.4 ± 2.6 3.9 ± 2.2 0.5 ± 1.3 0.8 ± 1.2

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26
Because participants in the current study
were measuring the same testees and the
accuracy of measurements were compared
against those of a skilled technician, we
assumed that the contribution of skin
thickness to measurement error was
controlled (i.e., each measurement was
taken on the same testees). However, skin
thickness may also contribute to SKF
compressibility (6). Himes, Roche, and
Siervogel (9) examined SKF compressibility
of 65 youth (33 males, 32 females) ages 8 to
19 years old. Although not statistically
significant, the trend at most of the seven
sites was for females to have less
compressible SKFs than males. Hattori and
Okamoto (6) examined SKF compressibility
across 16 sites in 96 Japanese university
students. Their findings were in partial
agreement with the previous findings
Himes et al. (17) and Martin et al. (14) in
that limb sites tended to be less
compressible in females than in males, yet
the opposite was found in the trunk sites.
Due to the compressibility of the skin,
participants that measure the testees after
multiple measures could have a
measurement bias between sexes and
different sites could be affected in diverse
manners.
The sex-dependent nature of measurement
error found in the current study also may
have been affected by the difference in SKF
thickness. Pollock, Jackson, and Graves
(18) studied the effects of sex, SKF site
location, and SKF thickness on
measurement error. Participants were 24
males (ages 34 ± 10 years old) and 44
females (ages 31 ± 5 years old). After two
testers on two separate days measured the
axilla, chest, abdomen, thigh, subscapular,
triceps, and suprailiac of the participants,
Pollock et al. (18) found no sex difference.
Participants were then tricotimized by the
sum of SKFs with the three groups
averaging 69 mm, 101 mm, and 180 mm.
Measurement error was significantly higher
in the group with the highest sum of SKFs.
Measurement error ranged from 1.0 – 1.5
mm with SKFs under 15 mm thick, 1.5 – 2.5
mm with SKFs from 16 – 30 mm thick, and
3.0 – 3.5 mm with SKFs over 30 mm thick.
Pollock et al. (17) concluded that error in
the measurement of SKFs was more a
function of SKF thickness than a fuction of
site location or sex. In the current study, a
lean male and lean female with relatively
low sums of SKFs (37 mm and 95 mm for
the male and female, respectively, as
measured by a skilled technician) were
used and testees, consequently, would have
not been placed in a group where Pollock et
al. found the significantly higher
measurement error. However, Pollock et al.
(18) identified their technicians as
“trained”. Therefore, it is reasonable to
suspect that the measurement of thicker
SKFs of the female testee, although not
challenging for a trained technician, was
more difficult for the students to measure
and consequently resulted in greater
measurement error.
The current study was carefully designed
but is not without limitations. Student
measurements were compared to those
taken by only one skilled technician and,
although our technician is highly-
experienced, a degree of measurement error
is always possible. The testees were both
normal weight and lean, which may allow
for less measurement error of the SKFs (17),
although as expected the female testee had
higher %BF than the male testee. More
specifically, the female testee was a current

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27
member of the university’s tennis team and
the male testee was a former, competitive
wrestler. Further research is needed on the
accuracy of novices related to the
measurement of heavier population with
thicker SKFs, especially given the obesity
epidemic in many developed countries.
Also, the participants from each lab session
took measurements on the same testees in a
small time interval. This could make
placement of the measurement more
obvious and the fat may have been
compressed at the later measurements.
The measurements taken by students were
consistently lower for the female and
yielded %BF estimations about 4% lower
than the skilled technician’s estimation
while the students’ measurements for the
male were comparable to the skilled
technician. Proper undergraduate
education and experience with SKF
measurement appears to produce students
who can accurately measure SKFs,
however, additional attention is necessary
when teaching measurements individuals
with larger SKFs with specific emphasis on
the suprailium, abdominal, and thigh sites.
The goal of Exercise Science programs in
higher education institutions worldwide is
to produce professionals who are capable of
supporting and expanding the field of
exercise science. One such way is through
the proper measurement of particular
pertinent variables such as SKF thickness.
The current study revealed that properly
educated undergraduate students can
accurately measure the SKFs of a lean
young man and reasonably accurately
measure the SKFs of a lean young woman.
However, students were less accurate
measuring thicker SKFs. Professionals in
fields where SKFs are commonly measured
(e.g., personal training, strength and
conditioning) should be cognizant that
interns and young professionals may not
have the skills necessary to accurately
measure those with thicker SKFs.
Mentoring young professionals and giving
them sufficient practice in SKF
measurement would help them improve
skill and yield more accurate results.
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