Validation of bioelectrical impedance analysis to hydrostatic weighing in male body builders

The purpose of this study was to compare bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to hydrostatic weighing (HW) in male weight lifters and body builders. Twenty-two male body builders and weight lifters, 23 +/- 3 years of age (mean +/- SD), were studied to determine the efficacy of BIA to HW in this population. Subjects were measured on two separate occasions, 6 weeks apart, for test-retest reliability purposes. Participants recorded 3-day dietary intakes and average work-out times and regimens between the two testing periods. Subjects were, on average, 75 +/- 8 kg of body weight and 175 +/- 7 cm tall. Validation results were as follows: constant error for HW-BIA = 0.128 +/- 3.7%, r for HW versus BIA = -0.294. Standard error of the estimate for BIA = 2.32% and the total error for BIA = 3.6%. Percent body fat was 7.8 +/- 1% from BIA and 8.5 +/- 2% from HW (P > 0.05). Subjects consumed 3,217 +/- 1,027 kcals; 1,848 +/- 768 kcals from carbohydrates; 604 +/- 300 kcals from protein; and 783 +/- 369 kcals from fat. Although work-outs differed among one another, within subject training did not vary. These results suggest that measurement of percent body fat in male body builders and weight trainers is equally as accurate using BIA or HW.