title: Techniques used in the measurement of body composition: an overview with emphasis on bioelectrical impedance analysis.
abstract: The study of human body composition is now a distinct research area consisting of three interconnected parts: the five-level model and associated rules that govern the relations between components, body-composition methodology, and biological factors that influence body composition. In this overview we summarize fundamental concepts that relate to the five-level model and body-composition methods. We show how these concepts can be used to outline the essential features needed to critically evaluate the bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Body-composition research is a rapidly expanding area and in-depth systematic evaluation of new methods is a vital aspect of the field's growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Luke's-Roosevel Hospital Center, New York, USA. sbh2@columbia.edu
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010827:Physiology / Q000379:methods*