What is a limitation of the skin fold method?

The skin fold method primarily focuses on measuring subcutaneous fat, which is the fat located directly under the skin. This method involves using calipers to pinch and measure the thickness of skin folds at various sites on the body. The rationale behind this approach is that subcutaneous fat can be a reasonable proxy for overall body fat levels, but it does not account for other types of fat, such as visceral fat, which is stored around the organs and may have different health implications.

The limitation of the skin fold method lies in its inability to provide a complete picture of a person's body fat composition because it overlooks the fat that surrounds internal organs. Since visceral fat is not accessible through skin fold measurements, relying solely on this technique can lead to inaccuracies, particularly in assessing health risks associated with different types of body fat. This distinction underscores the importance of considering multiple assessment methods when evaluating an individual's body composition and health status.