The report of disability adjusted life lost to cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa is at the  increasing  rate. There is higher mortality rate  caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in developing countries including Nigeria. One of the major causes of CVD is obesity. Obesity was reported to be of high prevalence in all part of Nigeria which affects more women than men. In order to combat the menace of   body fat  in Nigeria, the accurate  measurement of body fat plays an important role. The study was designed to determined to derive simple equation  using body circumference that  predicts percent body fat for female undergraduates in a Nigeria University. The equation could be of importance to assess the lean body mass and percent body fat of women in a clinical and research set up.

Material and Method

One hundred and seventy five apparently healthy females undergraduates from a Nigeria University were consecutively selected to participate in the study after obtaining  their consent and ethical approval from appropriate authority. The body circumference was measured at the hip, waist, arm, forearm, wrist, thigh and calf  using standard protocol.  Participants  percent body fat (PBF) was measured using  Hydrostatic weighing equipment (HSW). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that there was positive relationship between PBF and weight (r= 0.714, p < 0.001), BMI r = 0.741, p < 0.001) wrist circumference (r = 0.297 p < 0.05) and frame size (r = 0.297 p < 0.05).  Three  prediction equations were obtained for prediction of PBF

Equation 1 =15.54 + 0.47(weight/kg) – 1.446 (wrist cir./cm); equation 2 =   1.113 (BMI) + 0.141(weight) – 12.507 and equation 3 =  1.456 (BMI) – 11.668.  The relationship between the equations shows a positive correlation between equation 1 and 2 ( r= 0.914 p < 0.001), 1and 3 (r =0.870, p< 0.001) and equation 2 and 3 (r = 0.993 p = 0.001). More so, our equations had a strong relationship (r= 0.773, 0.893, and 0.905 at  p< 0.000)  with    prediction  equation by Ejike and Ijeh.

Conclusion. Weight and BMI were found to be predictors of percent body fat with the  derived  equations.

It is suggested that the equations are put to use both in the clinical setting and for research  more validation .