Abstract.
Prediction equations of body composition based on measurements of whole-body bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) have been found to be population-specific. It was hypothesised that this may be, in part, due to differences in proportional limb lengths between ethnic or racial groups. As a preliminary to a survey of body composition in urban Nigerians using BIA, the relative limb lengths of the three major tribal groups (Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo) were determined. We found small (5–9%) but significantly longer limb lengths in Nigerians compared to a Caucasian population, but no significant differences between tribes. This implies that BIA prediction equations generated in a Caucasian population are inappropriate for use in a Nigerian population.
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Azinge, E.C., Mabayoje, M. & Ward, L.C. Body proportions in three Nigerian tribes. Acta Diabetol 40 (Suppl 1), s317–s319 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-003-0097-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-003-0097-8