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Published on: August 17, 2022
Body composition determination by bioimpedance: an update
1Department of Biological Engineering, UMR CNRS 6600, University of Technology of Compiegne, Compiegne, France. michel.jaffrin@utc.fr
Purpose Of Review:
To review various methods for measuring body composition by bioimpedance and their limitations, as well as available impedance meters, including body fat analyzers for home use.
Recent Findings:
Bioimpedance spectroscopy, which requires multifrequency impedance meters, is preferable for fluid volume measurements, especially extracellular fluid, whereas bioimpedance analysis at 50 kHz is more widely used for measuring fat-free mass. A method for using bioimpedance spectroscopy equations with 50 kHz impedance meters has been recently proposed and successfully tested. Low cost foot-to-foot impedance meters (body fat analyzers) with plantar electrodes on a body scale, that are easy and fast to use, have been compared with medical impedance meters and with dual X-ray absorptiometry measurements and found reasonably accurate, except for individuals with very low or high BMI.
Summary:
Body composition by bioimpedance is gaining acceptance in nutrition, hemodialysis, gerontology and sports medicine. Body fat analyzers that have been validated by comparison with dual x-ray absorptiometry could be useful to general practitioners, nutritionists and cardiologists.
