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Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry in the assessment of body composition in elderly Finnish women
Author(s) -
Haapala Irja,
Hirvonen Anu,
Niskanen Leo,
Uusitupa Matti,
Kröger Heikki,
Alhava Esko,
Nissinen Aulikki
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1046/j.1475-097x.2002.00447.x
Subject(s) - bioelectrical impedance analysis , medicine , anthropometry , fat mass , fat free mass , dual energy x ray absorptiometry , nuclear medicine , dual energy , skinfold thickness , statistics , zoology , mathematics , body weight , body mass index , bone mineral , osteoporosis , biology
Summary In this study, the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), skinfold thickness measurement (STM) and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), as a reference method, were compared with each other in the assessment of body composition in elderly (62–72‐year‐old) Finnish women ( n =93). BIA had better agreement with DXA in the assessment of fat free mass (FFM, R 2 =0·70, S res =2·1) and fat mass (FM, R 2 =0·93, S res =2·3) than the STM (FFM, R 2 =0·62, S res =2·4; FM, R 2 =0·89, S res =2·8). There was quite a large variation in the estimates when different BIA prediction equations were used. The equation developed in this study, FFM (kg)=−128·06 + 1·85 × BMI−0·63 × weight + 1·07 × height − 0·03 × resistance +10·0 × waist–hip ratio, yielded a small and unbiased error (0·5 ± 1·6 kg), with a small residual standard deviation ( R 2 =0·83, S res =1·6). However, error associated with the estimate of FM was positively related to the degree of FM. BIA (Heitmann) equation yielded unbiased estimates of both FFM and FM (FFM, R 2 =0·77, S res =1·8; FM, R 2 =0·95, S res =1·9). Both the STM and BIA (manufacturer's equation) resulted in error which was statistically significant and positively correlated with FFM and FM. These results indicate that BIA prediction equations, chosen with care, can improve the performance of equations based upon anthropometric measurements alone in the assessment of body composition in elderly women.