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Comparing measures of fat-free mass in overweight older adults using three different bioelectrical impedance devices and three prediction equations

  • Body Composition by Three Bia Devices
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To compare measures of fat-free mass (FFM) by three different bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices and to assess the agreement between three different equations validated in older adult and/or overweight populations.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Orthopaedics ward of Brisbane public hospital, Australia.

Participants

Twenty-two overweight, older Australians (72 yr ± 6.4, BMI 34 kg/m2 ± 5.5) with knee osteoarthritis.

Measurements

Body composition was measured using three BIA devices: Tanita 300-GS (foot-to-foot), Impedimed DF50 (hand-to-foot) and Impedimed SFB7 (bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS)). Three equations for predicting FFM were selected based on their ability to be applied to an older adult and/ or overweight population. Impedance values were extracted from the hand-to-foot BIA device and included in the equations to estimate FFM.

Results

The mean FFM measured by BIS (57.6 kg ± 9.1) differed significantly from those measured by foot-to-foot (54.6 kg ± 8.7) and hand-to-foot BIA (53.2 kg ± 10.5) (P < 0.001). The mean ± SD FFM predicted by three equations using raw data from hand-to-foot BIA were 54.7 kg ± 8.9, 54.7 kg ± 7.9 and 52.9 kg ± 11.05 respectively. These results did not differ from the FFM predicted by the hand-to-foot device (F = 2.66, P = 0.118).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that foot-to-foot and hand-to-foot BIA may be used interchangeably in overweight older adults at the group level but due to the large limits of agreement may lead to unacceptable error in individuals. There was no difference between the three prediction equations however these results should be confirmed within a larger sample and against a reference standard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, 4059, Australia

    Rebecca Ramsey, E. Isenring & L. Daniels

  2. School of Public Health — Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland, 4059, Australia

    Rebecca Ramsey

Authors
  1. Rebecca Ramsey
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  2. E. Isenring
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  3. L. Daniels
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca Ramsey.

Additional information

RR was the primary data collector and main author of the manuscript and assisted in statistical analysis and interpretation as part of the requirements for a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours). EI initiated and supervised the project and assisted in data analysis and interpretation and in writing the manuscript. LD initiated and supervised the project and assisted in writing the manuscript.

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Ramsey, R., Isenring, E. & Daniels, L. Comparing measures of fat-free mass in overweight older adults using three different bioelectrical impedance devices and three prediction equations. J Nutr Health Aging 16, 26–30 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0085-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0085-6

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