Comparison of Methods to Assess Body Composition Changes during a Period of Weight Loss

• DOI: 10.1038/oby.2005.97
• Publication Date: 2008-04-21T21:46:17Z
• Authors: Madlyn I. Frisard; Frank L. Greenway; James P. DeLany
• Keywords: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis; Body Fat Percentage

Abstract Objective : To assess the accuracy of body composition measurements by air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) compared with DXA during weight loss. Research Methods Procedures Fifty‐six healthy but overweight participants, 34 women 22 men (age, 52 ± 8.6 years; weight, 92.2 11.6 kg; BMI, 33.3 2.9 kg/m 2 ) were studied in an outpatient setting before after 6 months loss (weight loss, 5.6 5.5 kg). Subjects excluded if they had initiated a new drug therapy within 30 days randomization, program, or took 90 randomization. randomly assigned either to self‐help consisting two 20‐minute sessions nutritionist provision printed materials other resources, attendance at meetings commercial program (Weight Watchers). Body was examined each methods Results BIA (42.4 5.8%) underestimated percentage fat, whereas BodPod (Siri = 51.7 6.9%; Brozek 48.5 6.5%) overestimated fat (46.1 7.9%) Correlation coefficients for detecting changes between relatively high, Δfat mass (FM; r 0.63), Siri FM ( 0.65), tetrapolar 0.57), Tanita 0.61) being highest. Discussion In conclusion, all accurate assessing DXA, although there biases. Furthermore, sensitive enough detect