• Silvia Stagi, María Eugenia Ibáñez-Zamacona, Aline Jelenkovic, Elisabetta Marini, and Esther Rebato.
• Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Cagliari, Italy.
• Nutrition. 2021 Feb 1; 82: 111030.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-perceived body image and body composition in the sexes and in different age classes.MethodsThe sample consisted of 632 young adults (238 men and 394 women; 22.8 ± 2.3 y of age), and 162 middle-aged and elderly adults (96 men and 66 women; 61.4 ± 7.6 y of age). The Williamson's figure scale was used to evaluate current body size. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and waist, arm and calf circumferences) were taken, and body mass index was calculated. Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was applied to evaluate body composition.ResultsThe findings suggest that in both age classes, current body size was positively correlated with weight, body mass index, and vector length, indicative of the percentage of fat mass, but not with phase angle, indicative of the intracellular/extracellular water ratio and a proxy of muscle mass. The association was similar between men and women, but clearer in women. Confidence ellipses confirmed the strong association between the silhouettes and adiposity.ConclusionThe Williamson's figure scale silhouettes appear to be a suitable technique to screen for adiposity in epidemiologic studies and for routine applications.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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