Skin fold is a measure of the thickness of two layers of skin and the adjacent subcutaneous fat. Several skinfolds can be evaluated alone or together. Among these, we can mention the tricipital, bicipital and calf skin folds, indicating peripheral fat, and the subscapular and suprailiac folds, indicating central fat. Due to the existence of a relationship between subcutaneous fat and total body fat, the sum of several skin folds can be used to estimate total body fat.
The validity and reliability of skinfold measurements are influenced by the evaluator's ability, the type of adipometer, the factors of the individual evaluated and the equation used to estimate body fat. In addition, the practice of exercise can interfere with these measures, for this reason, it is preferable that the measurement be made before the practice of exercises.
