The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) international database: aims, scope, and call for data

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health

Background:

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive technique for estimating body composition and health parameters.
• BIA is utilized globally in clinical, sports, and health settings across various populations.
• BIA parameters offer insights into body composition, hydration, nutritional status, and overall health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a large, diverse, multi-country dataset of BIA raw measures and derived body components.
• To advance the understanding of variability in body composition related to demographic and lifestyle factors.
• To introduce the 'BIA International Database' project and invite researcher collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of an online portal hosted by the Exercise and Health Laboratory, University of Lisbon.
• Collection of BIA raw measures and derived body composition data from a wide age range.
• Inclusion of participant data covering age, sex, race, ethnicity, ancestry, lifestyle, and health status.

Main Results:

• The database currently holds 277,922 measures from individuals aged 11 months to 102 years.
• Comprehensive data on participants is being collected alongside BIA measurements.
• The database is designed to capture the profound variability in body composition.

Conclusions:

• The BIA International Database is a significant resource for body composition research.
• The project aims to foster a collaborative research environment for BIA studies.
• This initiative will facilitate deeper insights into human body composition and its determinants.