150 likes | 334 Views
Body Composition Continued. BMI, BIA, and Skinfolds. Ways to Determine Body Density. Direct Measurements Hydrostatic Weighing Plethysmography (Bod Pod) Indirect Measurements Standard Tables Body Mass Index (BMI): Wt (kg)/Ht 2 (m 2 ) Skinfolds Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA).
E N D
Body Composition Continued BMI, BIA, and Skinfolds
Ways to Determine Body Density • Direct Measurements • Hydrostatic Weighing • Plethysmography (Bod Pod) • Indirect Measurements • Standard Tables • Body Mass Index (BMI): Wt (kg)/Ht2 (m2) • Skinfolds • Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Indirect Measurements of Body Density • All of the methods listed except for hydrostatic weighing are indirect measurements of body density • The results of the measurements are used with regression equations to predict body density • Body density is then used to predict body composition • This piggy-backing of regression equations leads to larger error in the predictions
Body Mass Index Low risk Moderate risk Underweight Overweight Normal Morbidly Obese Obese High risk
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis • A simple method of predicting body density using the electrical properties of the body • Often used in scales and hand held devices that provides estimates of body fat percentage • BIA can also be used to test total body water content • For example pre and post an exercise bout in the heat
Impedance • Water with electrolytes acts a conductor of electrical current • Water and electrolytes make up much of fat-free mass • Adipose tissue acts as a resistor to electrical current thus impeding the current
Bioelectrical Impedance • Subject lies flat on a nonconducting surface connected to an electrical source by electrodes • A painless electrical current is passed through the body and the resistance to that current is measured • Impedance can be converted to body density through a regression equation
Confounding Variables with BIA • Hydration State • Room/Body Temperature • Difficulties Associated with Regression
Hydration • BIA gives a good idea of total body water content because water with electrolytes acts as the conducting substance • Changes in body fluid content (hydration status) then can affect the amount of resistance measured • Thus, body composition measurement can be different based on hydration of the subject • Dehydrated subjects tend to have lower body composition estimates because electrolyte concentration is higher • Hyperhydrated subjects tend to have higher body composition estimates
Temperature • Skin temperature (influenced by ambient conditions) affects whole-body resistance • Body fat predictions are lower in a warmer environment because moist skin produces less impedance to electrical flow
Other Problems • BIA less accurate than hydrostatic weighing or skinfolds • Tends to overpredict body fat in lean and athletic subjects (even greater overprediction in African American athletes) • Tends to underpredict body fat in obese subjects • Not accurate to predict small changes in body composition
Skinfolds • Take skinfold measurements at different sites using calipers: • Biceps, triceps, subscapular, chest, abdomen, suprailium, thigh, calf, midaxillary • Calculate body density using one of a number of regression equations derived from densitometry • Varies with number of sites (1, 3, 4, 7 , 12) • How many should you include? • Varies with population % Fat = [(4.570/body density ) - 4.142] x 100
Skinfolds – Measurement • 3-4% error compared to densitometry • May overestimate % body fat in very lean people and underestimate in obese people • Accuracy varies with age, gender, race, ethnic background • Most beneficial for tracking an individual’s% body fat over time
Skinfolds – Measurement • To improve accuracy of measurement: • take three measurements at each site and use mean or median value of these measurements • person taking measurements should be trained so he/she can consistently repeat measurement • same person should administer successive tests so fair comparison to earlier results can be made
Skinfolds – Assumptions • Compressed double layer of skin and adipose tissue is representative of an uncompressed single layer of adipose tissue • implies that skin thickness is constant or negligible • skin thickness comprises greater proportion of thin skinfold than thick skinfold, so it cannot be constant • skin thickness varies between individuals and between sites, so it cannot be negligible • Limited number of skinfold sites represents remaining subcutaneous adipose tissue throughout body • Limited number of subcutaneous sites represents fat deposited in other storage sites, such as viscera, bone marrow, interstitial spaces, and intramuscular triglyceride