In what situations is tricep skinfold thickness not reliable?

• A. It may be falsely elevated with edema, and may not be reliable in obese patients
• B. It is reliable in edema
• C. It is unaffected by obesity
• D. It is unreliable only in dehydration

Answer: (A)

Triceps skinfold thickness is a measure of subcutaneous fat, but its accuracy depends on stable tissue conditions and proper technique. Edema adds fluid to the interstitial spaces, which increases the apparent thickness of the skinfold and can falsely elevate the reading, making it unreliable as a fat assessment when edema is present. In obesity, excessive adipose tissue and the practical difficulties of grasping a thick fold can reduce measurement precision, and the standard formulas used to convert skinfold sums to percent fat may not apply well to very high levels of body fat. So, tricep skinfold thickness is not reliable in the presence of edema and in obese patients. Saying it is reliable in edema is incorrect, and stating it is unaffected by obesity or unreliable only in dehydration does not fit the evidence.