Title of article:

A comparison of body composition techniques

Authors: Rubiano F, Nuñez C, Heymsfield SB.
Poster presented at: International Symposium on Invivo Composition Studies, Brookhaven National Laboratory. 1999.

Abstract

Objective: There are numerous body composition instruments that provide simple, noninvasive estimates of body composition. A few common field methods include Futrex-5000(A), The Body Comp scale (American Weights and Measures) and Tanita (TBF-310) instruments. To determine the total body composition, the Futrex estimates are based on near-infared analysis of tissues, while TBF-310 instruments use the electrical conductive properties of the arms and legs, respectively. The purpose of the present study was to compare body fat estimates by all three techniques with % fat eximates by Dual X-ray absorptiometry ( DXA, Lunar DPX) in 21 normal subjects ranging in age (mean±SD, 53±15 years) and BMI (28.0±4.2 kg/m2). Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for all methods used in determining % fat estimates are shown in table:
Results: The regression lines were not significantly different from the lines of identity for all three techniques versus DXA fat estimates. The TBF-310, however, yielded the highest correlation with a lower corresponding SEE = 2.74% as compared to SEE's of 4.40% and 5.24% for the BC scale and Futrex, respectively. We conclude that current field methods of body composition differ in accuracy compared to DXA.

Correlations Futrex BC Scale TBF -310
BC Scale 0.684    
TBF-310 0.782 0.952  
DXA 0.841 0.891 0.959


Comments and Key points

This poster was presented at a scientific meeting and reproduced on the Tanita Corporation website1. It demonstrates that Bio-Electrical Impedence measurements, made with the inexpensive Tanita TBF-310 body fat monitor scales, were able to accurately measure the subjects body fat percentage, with 96% correlation to the reference DEXA results. That's pretty darn good.

 

References

  1. http://www.tanita.com/professional/abstracts/abstract_main.html

Review & comments by Steven B. Halls, MD, Last edited 26-May-2008 Copyright.

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