Methods Of Body Composition Assessment Research Articles

Reliability and validity of various laboratory methods of body composition assessment in young adults

Accurate measures of body composition (BC) are essential for performance and health. In addition to accuracy, BC measures should be practical and be minimally invasive to maximize their utility. The purpose of the present study was to compare the day-to-day variability and validity of four common laboratory-based body composition assessments to a criterion four-compartment model. Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), air displacement plethysmography (BP), multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance (MF-BIA) and underwater weighing (UWW) were performed twice in a sample of 32 young men and women. Participants were assessed in a fasted, euhydrated state 2-7days apart. All methods were compared to a criterion four-compartment model using BP-derived body volume, DXA-derived bone mineral content and MF-BIA-derived total body water (4CBP ). Additional four-compartment models using UWW- and DXA-derived body volume were also examined (4CUWW ) and (4CDXA ). Validity results were conducted with paired t-tests and Bland-Altman analysis. Reliability was determined using intraclass correlations (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV) and standard error of the measurement (SEM). Validity analysis revealed that all methods overestimated per cent body fat and fat mass, and underestimated fat-free mass when compared with 4CBP , but only DXA and BP were significantly different (P<0·008). All measures were highly reliable across days (ICCs>0·9, CVs<12%). Results of the present study indicate that typical laboratory-based methods of body composition are valid and reliable. However, we caution that results should not be translated between methods and assessments should be performed with the same instrument when the goal is to monitor changes in body composition over time.

Influence of subject presentation on interpretation of body composition change after 6months of self-selected training and diet in athletic males.

High precision body composition assessment methods accurately monitor physique traits in athletes. The acute impact of subject presentation (ad libitum food and fluid intake plus physical activity) on body composition estimation using field and laboratory methods has been quantified, but the impact on interpretation of longitudinal change is unknown. This study evaluated the impact of athlete presentation (standardised versus non-standardised) on interpretation of change in physique traits over time. Thirty athletic males (31.2 ± 7.5 years; 182.2 ± 6.5cm; 91.7 ± 10.3kg; 27.6 ± 2.6kg/m2) underwent two testing sessions on 1day including surface anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and air displacement plethysmography (via the BOD POD), with combinations of these used to establish three-compartment (3C) and four-compartment (4C) models. Tests were conducted after an overnight fast (BASEam) and ~ 7h later after ad libitum food/fluid and physical activity (BASEpm). This procedure was repeated 6months later (POSTam and POSTpm). Magnitude of changes in the mean was assessed by standardisation. After 6months of self-selected training and diet, standardised presentation testing (BASEam to POSTam) identified trivial changes from the smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) in fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) for all methods except for BIS (FM) where there was a large change (7.2%) from the SWE. Non-standardised follow-up testing (BASEam to POSTpm) showed trivial changes from the SWE except for small changes in FFM (BOD POD) of 1.1%, and in FM (3C and 4C models) of 6.4 and 3.5%. Large changes from the SWE were found in FFM (BIS, 3C and 4C models) of 2.2, 1.8 and 1.8% and in FM (BIS) of 6.4%. Non-standardised presentation testing (BASEpm to POSTpm) identified trivial changes from the SWE in FFM except for BIS which was small (1.1%). A moderate change from the SWE was found for BOD POD (3.3%) and large for BIS (9.4%) in FM estimations. Changes in body composition utilising non-standardised presentation were more substantial and often in the opposite direction to those identified using standardised presentation, causing misinterpretation of change in physique traits. Standardised presentation prior to body composition assessment for athletic populations should be advocated to enhance interpretation of true change.

Proportional bias between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis varies based on sex in active adults consuming high- and low-carbohydrate diets

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are common methods of body composition assessment, but the agreement between these methods varies. Bias between DXA and single-frequency BIA was evaluated at 6 different time points in 48 active male and female adults consuming standardized high- and low-carbohydrate diets. It was hypothesized that fixed and proportional biases exist between DXA and BIA but that the extent of bias does not differ based on sex. Substantial fixed bias was present for estimates obtained by DXA and BIA, and both men and women exhibited proportional bias for fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). The magnitude of bias was greater in women, and only women exhibited proportional bias for body fat percentage. In individuals with less FM, the mean difference between DXA and BIA was high, indicating that BIA underestimated FM relative to DXA. However, in individuals with greater FM, better agreement was seen. Correspondingly, the mean difference in FFM estimates was greater in individuals with less FFM. In some individuals with high quantities of FM or FFM relative to the sample, the relationship between devices was reversed such that BIA overestimated FM and underestimated FFM. The degree of disagreement between DXA and BIA varies substantially based on body size and sex such that all-encompassing statements regarding the comparability of these technologies cannot presently be made.

Body Composition Evaluation in Severe Obesity: A Critical Review

1.1. Background: There is no consensus about the best method to conduct body composition assessment in patients with severe obesity. A simple, accurate, reproducible and inexpensive method is desirable. 1.2. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was made in Pubmed, Virtual Health Library and Embase about methods for body composition assessment in severe obesity. 1.3. Results: The literature search produced 433 studies but only 24 meet the inclusion criteria. In methods traditionally used changes in body format, body density and composition of body components determined errors. More reliable methods such as Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and Hydrostatic Weighing have limited use in morbid obese individuals due to equipment availability, cost and technical difficulties determined by morbid obesity. Plethysmography seems effective, but it may overestimate body fat. Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) with specific equations minimizes underestimation of body fat. Anthropometry has doubt effectiveness, but the recent suggest Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an inexpensive and noninvasive method that seems to be accurate in morbid obesity patients. 1.4. Conclusion: BIA (with specific equations) and BAI are inexpensive and noninvasive methods available worldwide and could be routinely used for body fat estimation.

Validation of the Integrative Body Composition Method for Assessing Fat Mass with Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Body composition (BC) is considered to be an important component of fitness testing, and accurate assessment of one’s BC is critical to determining that person’s general level of fitness, as well as their risk for cardiovascular disease. There are numerous methods to assess BC, but a relatively new technique, called Integrative Body Composition (IBC), has been developed using a person’s height (H), weight (W), waist circumference (WAIST), and wrist diameter (WD). This method has been validated previously against other BC assessment methods, such as hydrostatic weighing (HW) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP), but it has not been tested using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the criterion measure. PURPOSE: To investigate the validity of the IBC method for assessing a person’s BC using DXA as the criterion measure. For comparison purposes, data from skinfolds (SF) and from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were also collected. METHODS: A convenience sample of sixty participants (Males n=24; Females n=36) reported twice to the lab, once where H, W, WAIST, and WD data were collected for IBC assessment, as well as data for SF and BIA, and a second time where data from DXA were collected. RESULTS: Mean percent body fat values for the four assessment methods were as follows: [IBC (Total: 25.3 ± 8.5; Males: 20.6 ± 8.4; Females: 28.5 ± 6.9); DXA (Total: 28 ± 7.2; Males: 23.9 ± 6.6; Females: 30.8 ± 6.2); SF (Total: 21.1 ± 8.3; Males: 17.1 ± 6.8; Females: 23.9 ± 8.1); BIA (Total: 22.2 ± 8.2; Males: 18.8 ± 8.8; Females: 24.6 ± 6.8)]. Pearson correlations revealed significant relationships (p<0.01) between IBC & DXA (Total: r=0.81; Males: r=0.77; Females: r=0.74), IBC & SF (Total: r=0.84; Males: r=0.81; Females: r=0.83), and IBC & BIA (Total: r=0.83; Males: r=0.78; Females: r=0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research identifying IBC as a valid measure when compared to HW and ADP, these data support IBC as a valid BC assessment technique when also compared to DXA. However, it should be noted that the standard deviations in these data were fairly large, and that these data as well as previously collected data on IBC are limited to correlational values. Additional analyses of these data should be conducted to determine the magnitude of agreement between these assessment methods.

Is It Useful And Practical To Assess Body Fat In Sick Infants Using Skinfolds?

Sick infants have increased risk of undernutrition, but often also have unusual body proportions, making anthropometry unreliable in detecting low fat stores. Thus body composition (BC) assessment methods may be needed to identify undernutrition reliably. BC methods are often costly, impractical for clinical use and tend not to have reference data for infants. Skinfolds (SF) are cheap and portable and well established in adults, but little used in infants. The WHO growth chart project published standards for subscapular (SS) and triceps (TC) skinfolds from age 3 months to 5 years in 2007. We aimed to assess the practicality of measuring SF in hospitalised infants and the relative predictive validity of different references and thresholds to detect nutritional risk, in two settings with different prevalence of undernutrition.MethodsAs part of a study of nutritional screening project (iNEWS) infants were studied at admission to two tertiary children's hospitals in Glasgow, UK (aged 0–12 months) and Tabriz, Iran (1–12 months). Oversampling was used to recruit infants likely to be at higher risk of undernutrition. Four researchers recruited in the UK and one in Iran. Paediatric Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) was undertaken to determine malnutrition risk and TC and SS skinfolds were measured using Holtain calipers. Measurements were converted into Z scores relative to the WHO 2006 standard. The WHO SF standard only starts at 3 months, so a reference for sum of skinfolds (SSF) for ages 0–12 months was modeled from the UK cohort SF data, using the LMS method. As the lower limit for SF in the UK cohort showed little variation up to age 12 months, we also used a SSF 5th centile threshold of 10mm.ResultsIn the UK 195 infants and in Iran 179 were measured at mean (SD) age 4.8 (3.4) and 5.4 (2.9) months. Measuring SF proved practical and acceptable. In Iran 30% infants were at high SGNA nutritional risk, compared to 14% in UK. WHO z scores could be calculated for 236 infants age 3m+, while 369 had iPYMS z scores and SSF. Mean SF z scores varied strongly with nutrition risk in Iran, but only weakly in the UK; only one UK high nutrition risk infant actually had low fat stores (Table). In Iran SSF &lt;10mm had a 67% sensitivity for high nutrition risk and specificity of 89% with a positive predictive value of 72%.ConclusionsThe iPYMS reference gave similar results to WHO, but so did a raw sum of skinfolds threshold of 10mm, suggesting that this could be used clinically as a simple threshold for undernutrition in children aged under one year. Measuring skinfolds might be more reliable than conventional screening to identify truly malnourished children in countries with a low background prevalence of undernutrition.Support or Funding InformationData collection in the UK was part funded by Organix Foundation SF z scores and proportion with low SF, using different analytical methods, broken down by country and malnutrition risk SGNA UK Iran Mean(SD) Low High p* Low High p* SF z score (WHO) 0.33 (1.1) −0.95 (1.0) 0.008 −0.85 (1.0) −3.00 (1.1) &lt;0.001 SSF z score (UK) 0.23 (0.9) −0.76 (0.8) &lt;0.001 −0.78 (0.8) −2.46 (0.7) &lt;0.001 Mean SF &lt;‐2z (WHO) 33% (2) 17% (1) 0.049 5.6% (3) 61% (33) &lt;0.001 SSFz &lt;‐2 (UK) 40% (2) 20% (1) 0.190 3.8% (2) 73% (38) &lt;0.001 SSF &lt;10mm 29% (2) 14% (1) 0.072 8.0% (4) 72% (36) &lt;0.001 χ2 ANOVA

Cancer-associated malnutrition, cachexia and sarcopenia: the skeleton in the hospital closet 40 years later.

An awareness of the importance of nutritional status in hospital settings began more than 40 years ago. Much has been learned since and has altered care. For the past 40 years several large studies have shown that cancer patients are amongst the most malnourished of all patient groups. Recently, the use of gold-standard methods of body composition assessment, including computed tomography, has facilitated the understanding of the true prevalence of cancer cachexia (CC). CC remains a devastating syndrome affecting 50-80 % of cancer patients and it is responsible for the death of at least 20 %. The aetiology is multifactorial and complex; driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines and specific tumour-derived factors, which initiate an energy-intensive acute phase protein response and drive the loss of skeletal muscle even in the presence of adequate food intake and insulin. The most clinically relevant phenotypic feature of CC is muscle loss (sarcopenia), as this relates to asthenia, fatigue, impaired physical function, reduced tolerance to treatments, impaired quality of life and reduced survival. Sarcopenia is present in 20-70 % depending on the tumour type. There is mounting evidence that sarcopenia increases the risk of toxicity to many chemotherapy drugs. However, identification of patients with muscle loss has become increasingly difficult as 40-60 % of cancer patients are overweight or obese, even in the setting of metastatic disease. Further challenges exist in trying to reverse CC and sarcopenia. Future clinical trials investigating dose reductions in sarcopenic patients and dose-escalating studies based on pre-treatment body composition assessment have the potential to alter cancer treatment paradigms.

Assessment methods of body composition

Body composition assessment has an important role in many fields of medicine, in evaluation of health status of the individual, as well as in sports sciences as a part of physiological profile of athletes. There are several methods for body composition assessment, which provide indirect data on the body structure. For instance in anthropometry, simple techniques such as skinfold measurements provide simply, quick and nonexpensive assessment of body fat mass. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) is described as a method with rising validity, especially for measurement in regional body composition. The value of BIA in routine clinical terms is still limited, while DXA has potential of becoming new golden standard for body composition assessment. More sophisiticated methods such is MRI have advantage over other techniques for estimation of regional body composition, since it provides the only accurate and viable approach for the estimation of intra-abdominal adipose tissue. This method is limited to experimental studies on smaller group of individuals, since it is expensive and not available to routine assessment. Combination of more methods may be the best approach for obtaining accurate results and informations about health status of individual.

Deuterium oxide dilution and body composition in overweight and obese schoolchildren aged 6‐9 years

ObjectiveTo correlate different methods of body composition assessment in overweight or obese schoolchildren, using deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution as a reference. MethodsPercentage of total body water (%TBW), fat free mass (%FFM), and body fat (%BF) were assessed by D2O and tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in 54 obese and overweight students aged 6–9 years. Skinfold thickness (ST), body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), and waist‐to‐hip (WHR) ratio were also used. ResultsMean values for body composition were 38.4%±8.4% BF, 44.9%±6.1% TBW and 61.6%±8.4% FFM. There was no significant difference in body weight, body fat mass (FM), TBW, and FFM between genders. Regarding D2O, ST underestimated %BF, and overestimated %FFM in both genders (p<0.05). BIA overestimated %TBW in the group as a whole and in males (p<0.05). The only positive and strong correlations occurred in females regarding the WC (σ=0.679), CI (r=0.634), and WHtR (r=0.666). ConclusionsIn this sample of obese and overweight children, there were strong correlations between body composition measured by D2O and some indices and anthropometric indicators in females, but there was no positive and strong correlation of fat tissue with the indices/indicators at all ages and in both genders.

Current Methods of Human Body Composition Assessment

Current Methods of Human Body Composition Assessment

Body Composition Tools for Assessment of Adult Malnutrition at the Bedside: A Tutorial on Research Considerations and Clinical Applications.

Because of the key role played by the body's lean tissue reserves (of which skeletal muscle is a major component) in the response to injury and illness, its maintenance is of central importance to nutrition status. With the recent development of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition diagnostic framework for malnutrition, the loss of muscle mass has been recognized as one of the defining criteria. Objective methods to evaluate muscle loss in individuals with acute and chronic illness are needed. Bioimpedance and ultrasound techniques are currently the best options for the clinical setting; however, additional research is needed to investigate how best to optimize measurements and minimize error and to establish if these techniques (and which specific approaches) can uniquely contribute to the assessment of malnutrition, beyond more subjective evaluation methods. In this tutorial, key concepts and statistical methods used in the validation of bedside methods to assess lean tissue compartments are discussed. Body composition assessment methods that are most widely available for practice and research in the clinical setting are presented, and clinical cases are used to illustrate how the clinician might use bioimpedance and/or ultrasound as a tool to assess nutrition status at the bedside. Future research needs regarding malnutrition assessment are identified.

Deuterium oxide dilution and body composition in overweight and obese schoolchildren aged 6–9 years

ObjectiveTo correlate different methods of body composition assessment in overweight or obese schoolchildren, using deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution as a reference. MethodsPercentage of total body water (%TBW), fat free mass (%FFM), and body fat (%BF) were assessed by D2O and tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in 54 obese and overweight students aged 6–9 years. Skinfold thickness (ST), body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip (WHR) ratio were also used. ResultsMean values for body composition were 38.4%±8.4% BF, 44.9%±6.1% TBW and 61.6%±8.4% FFM. There was no significant difference in body weight, body fat mass (FM), TBW, and FFM between genders. Regarding D2O, ST underestimated %BF, and overestimated %FFM in both genders (p<0.05). BIA overestimated %TBW in the group as a whole and in males (p<0.05). The only positive and strong correlations occurred in females regarding the WC (σ=0.679), CI (r=0.634), and WHtR (r=0.666). ConclusionsIn this sample of obese and overweight children, there were strong correlations between body composition measured by D2O and some indices and anthropometric indicators in females, but there was no positive and strong correlation of fat tissue with the indices/indicators at all ages and in both genders.

Body Composition In Sport

Quantifying body composition (BC) has played an important role in monitoring athlete’s health and performance. Skinfolds (SK) is the most commonly used method, however, it is an indirect method, whereas ultrasound (US) measures subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) directly with high accuracy and precision. PURPOSE: Estimation of the inter- and intra-tester reliability of the US method for assessment of BC in athletes, compared with the widely used SF method. METHODS: 3 male and 3 female athletes (mean±SD: age: 24±1.7 yrs, weight: 61.5±6.7 kg, height: 1.73±0.8 m, BMI: 20.6±1.5 kg/m2) with competitive background in endurance sports were measured by three trained anthropometrists. SF were taken according to ISAK standardization at biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, supraspinale, abdomen, front thigh, and medial calf. For US measurements, some ISAK sites were replaced by sites which are better suited for the US technique: biceps, distal triceps, supraspinale, upper abdomen, lower abdomen, erector spinae, front thigh, and medial calf. For US image evaluation, the FAT software (Rotosport, Graz, Austria) was used. Inter- and intra-tester variations were calculated using pooled estimates. For intra-individual variation, a pooled standard diviation (SD) was computed for the six subjects per observer per site. For inter-individual variation, a SD was calculated for the six subjects by site combining all three observers’ data. RESULTS: At equivalent sites, US had lower SD at four sites compared with SF method. For US analysis, intra-tester reliability ranged from 0.03-0.79mm SD. For inter-tester values, US showed values ranging from 0.42-0.62mm SD (with exception of 0.70mm for the upper abdomen and 1.51mm for lower abdomen), while SF resulted in values ranging from 0.38-1.09mm SD. The larger values resulting in the abdominal area using US may be due to embedded structures within the region. CONCLUSION: The US method showed good reliability when compared with SF (one exception was abdomen which showed less reliability). US measures uncompressed SAT, whereas SF measures two layers of skin and SAT, both tissues with undefined thickness reduction due to compression.

Comparison of Body Composition Assessment Methods in Pediatric Intestinal Failure

The aim of the study was to examine the agreement of multifrequency bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry with reference methods for body composition assessment in children with intestinal failure (IF). We conducted a prospective pilot study in children 14 years or younger with IF resulting from either short bowel syndrome or motility disorders. Bland-Altman analysis was used to examine the agreement between BIA and deuterium dilution in measuring total body water (TBW) and lean body mass (LBM), and between BIA and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) techniques in measuring LBM and fat mass (FM). FM and percent body fat (%BF) measurements by BIA and anthropometry were also compared in relation to those measured by deuterium dilution. Fifteen children with IF, median (interquartile range) age 7.2 (5.0, 10.0) years, and 10 (67%) boys, were studied. BIA and deuterium dilution were in good agreement with a mean bias (limits of agreement) of 0.9 (-3.2 to 5.0) for TBW (L) and 0.1 (-5.4 to 5.6) for LBM (kg) measurements. The mean bias (limits) for FM (kg) and %BF measurements were 0.4 (-3.8 to 4.6) kg and 1.7 (-16.9 to 20.3)%, respectively. The limits of agreement were within 1 standard deviation of the mean bias in 12 of 14 (86%) subjects for TBW and LBM, and in 11 of 14 (79%) for FM and %BF measurements. Mean bias (limits) for LBM (kg) and FM (kg) between BIA and DXA were 1.6 (-3.0 to 6.3) kg and -0.1 (-3.2 to 3.1) kg, respectively. Mean bias (limits) for FM (kg) and %BF between anthropometry and deuterium dilution were 0.2 (-4.2 to 4.6) and -0.2 (-19.5 to 19.1), respectively. The limits of agreement were within 1 standard deviation of the mean bias in 10 of 14 (71%) subjects. In children with IF, TBW and LBM measurements by multifrequency BIA method were in agreement with isotope dilution and DXA methods, with small mean bias and clinically acceptable limits of agreement. In comparison with deuterium dilution, BIA was comparable to anthropometry for FM and %BF assessments with small mean bias, but the limits of agreement were large. BIA is a reliable method for TBW and LBM assessments in population studies; however, its reliability in individual patients, especially for FM assessments, cannot be guaranteed.

Assessment of body composition in IBD children by bioelectrical impedance, DEXA and isotopic dilution methods (640.8)

Background: This study is part of a research program to characterize energy balance in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this frame, assessment of body composition provides important information regarding disease status in children. However, body composition data are lacking for most pathological conditions and methods comparison provide a useful guide to clinicians. Aim: To determine the level of agreement between three different methods of body composition assessment among children with IBD.Method: The study was approved by the local Swiss Ethics committee. 16 IBD children (8 girls and 8 boys, mean age 14.7 ± 1.3 years) and 23 healthy children (9 girls and 14 boys, mean age 13.0 ± 2.1 years) completed the study. Fat‐free mass (FFM, in kg) was assessed by DEXA (only in IBD children), bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and double labeled water (DLW) method.Results: In IBD children, FFM (kg) was 35.4 ± 5.3 by BIA vs. 34.2 ± 5.3 by DEXA (paired t‐test: p=0.07) and 36.0 ± 5.9 by DLW (p=0.28 between BIA and isotopes; p&lt;0.02 between isotopes and DEXA). In healthy children, FFM (kg) was 38.3 ± 10.7 by BIA, vs. 40.5 ± 12.3 by DLW (paired t‐test: p&lt;0.01). For IBD children, regressions between BIA and DEXA showed a slope of 0.90, between DLW and DEXA a slope of 0.98 and between BIA and DLW a slope of 0.83.Conclusion: In children with IBD, assessment of FFM by BIA is a non‐invasive method and provides adequate results relative to DEXA and DLW measurements.Grant Funding Source: Supported by a Swiss grant

Challenges in Determining Body Fat in Pregnant Women

Background/Aims: Determining body composition in pregnant women is challenging as not all of the existing applicable methodologies can be used during pregnancy and not all of the methods have been properly standardized. The aim of this study was to compare the existing anthropometric methods for the evaluation of body composition, especially in pregnant women. Methods: One hundred forty-seven pregnant volunteers aged [average (SD)] 31 years (±4) in gestational week 32 (±3) provided information on their age and prepregnancy body mass. Their height, current mass, skinfold thicknesses, and limb circumferences were measured. The body density and fat percentage were calculated according to 17 different anthropometric equations obtained from the literature. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. Results: For the same sample of pregnant women, the body fat percentages obtained using the existing anthropometric methods varied greatly (p < 0.0001) and ranged from 16% (±5) to 38% (±4); methods developed specifically for pregnant women yielded disturbingly large differences, with body fat values ranging from 16% (±5) to 36% (±6). Conclusions: This study revealed large discrepancies among anthropometric methods for body composition assessment in pregnant women. As the results from the same sample obtained with different existing equations are wide ranging, the existing methodologies should be examined and improved before they can serve as sources of information regarding the health status of pregnant women.

Actual aspects of studying athlete’s body composition

The review of the literature presents the existing methods of the body composition estimation, including the area of their use and information they provide, the role of the body composition monitoring in athletes, as well as the main factors influencing the body composition, are outlined. Over time, in professional sports there is a trend of the significant improvement of the results, sophistication of the technical sporting programs, leading to tougher training and competition, resulting in morphological changes of the athletes’ body composition. Thus, the importance of the athletes’ body composition assessment increases. Athletes’ body composition monitoring allows to assess the athletes’ health and physical fitness, allowing to adjust the training. The development of the new methods, changes in basic principles and the possibilities of determining body composition, which today have become more accurate and reliable, is an important step towards the proper athlete’s health support and enhancing the performance. Currently, there are a lot of methods of tissue body composition assessment at different levels of organization (elemental, molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels, whole body level). However, despite the variety of existing methods, each of them has a number of advantages and disadvantages for use in sports practice. Therefore, to choose the proper body composition assessment method, it is necessary to focus on research objectives, as well as the accessibility and availability of the research method. Introduction of new technologies and examination methods allows increasing the specificity and promptness of the body composition estimation, but the novel methods are high-cost, needs standardization and validation to be widely used in common practice.

How to minimise the health risks to athletes who compete in weight-sensitive sports review and position statement on behalf of the Ad Hoc Research Working Group on Body Composition, Health and Performance, under the auspices of the IOC Medical Commission

A focus on low body weight and body fat content, combined with regulations in some weight-sensitive sports, are considered risk factors for extreme dieting, eating disorders (EDs) and related health...

Body composition for health and performance: a survey of body composition assessment practice carried out by the Ad Hoc Research Working Group on Body Composition, Health and Performance under the auspices of the IOC Medical Commission

BackgroundSuccessful performers in weight-sensitive sports are characterised by low body mass (BM) and fat content. This often requires chronic energy restriction and acute weight loss practices.AimTo evaluate current use of...

Body composition in sport: a comparison of a novel ultrasound imaging technique to measure subcutaneous fat tissue compared with skinfold measurement

BackgroundExtremely low weight and rapid changes in weight and body composition have become major concerns in many sports, but sufficiently accurate field methods for body composition assessment in athletes are...