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Validity of Leg-to-Leg Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to Estimate Body Fat in Obesity

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Abstract

Background

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a safe and easy method of assessing body composition. Its accuracy to predict fat mass (FM) in obesity and the change in FM following weight loss is questioned. Our objective was to compare leg-to-leg BIA to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the assessment of FM in a large population, the changes in FM after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and to estimate between-method differences (bias) and limits of agreement.

Methods

BIA (Tanita BC-420MA) and DXA (Hologic Discovery W) were used in 5,740 consecutive patients (mean BMI, 37.7 ± 8.2 kg/m2) examined in a clinical nutrition department and in 72 women undergoing RYGB (BMI, 47.2 ± 7.2 kg/m2). Analyses included correlations between methods and Bland Altman analysis.

Results

In the entire population, BIA significantly overestimated FM in comparison with DXA (1.1 ± 6.1 kg, 0.8 ± 5.6%). FM estimates by each method were significantly correlated in absolute value (kg; r 2 = 0.9 in the whole population), and in percentage (r 2 = 0.6). However, wide limits of agreement were observed. In surgery patients, BIA significantly overestimated FM both before and 12 months after bypass. BIA significantly overestimated changes in FM after RYGB at 3 months (2.9 ± 5.0 kg) and at 12 months (1.9 ± 3.9 kg) but not at 6 months (0.9 ± 5.0 kg; p = 0.08). Estimates of changes in FM by each method were significantly correlated (r 2 = 0.4, 0.6, and 0.9, respectively).

Conclusion

According to the wide limits of agreement, BIA seems more interesting for epidemiological rather than individual use to evaluate body FM and FM changes in obese women undergoing RYGB.

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Abbreviations

BIA:

Bioelectrical impedance analysis

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

RYGB:

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BMI:

Body mass index

FFM:

Fat-free mass

FM:

Fat mass

kg:

Kilogram

g:

Gram

TBW:

Total body water

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are expressed to Sophie Festis and Marianne Merlet, both at the Department of Nutrition, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France, for expert technical assistance with DXA measurements. The authors are grateful to Dr. Andrew Green, general practitioner in Cheltenham (UK), for reviewing the English.

Conflict of interest

None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (AP-HP), University Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 83, Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France

    Célia Lloret Linares, Cécile Ciangura, Muriel Coupaye, Christine Poitou, Arnaud Basdevant & Jean-Michel Oppert

  2. Center of Research on Human Nutrition Ile de France (CRNHIdF), Paris, France

    Célia Lloret Linares, Cécile Ciangura, Muriel Coupaye, Christine Poitou, Arnaud Basdevant & Jean-Michel Oppert

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Paris Descartes University, (INSERM U705, CNRS UMR 7157), Paris, 75006, France

    Célia Lloret Linares & Xavier Declèves

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Lariboisière, University of Paris VII, Paris, 75010, France

    Célia Lloret Linares

  5. Department of Surgery, Hôpital Hotel Dieu, University of Paris V, Paris, 75004, France

    Jean-Luc Bouillot

  6. INSERM, U872 team 7, Nutriomique, Cordeliers Research Center, Paris, 75006, France

    Christine Poitou & Arnaud Basdevant

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  1. Célia Lloret Linares
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  2. Cécile Ciangura
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Correspondence to Jean-Michel Oppert.

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Lloret Linares, C., Ciangura, C., Bouillot, JL. et al. Validity of Leg-to-Leg Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to Estimate Body Fat in Obesity. OBES SURG 21, 917–923 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0296-7

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