title: The role of body composition measurements in wasting syndromes.
abstract: Wasting is a state of nonvolitional weight loss that frequently afflicts patients with cancer or those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Body composition measurements afford a more clinically relevant assessment of an individual's functional capacity, energy stores, and prognosis. Several techniques of body composition measurements exist, each with selected advantages and disadvantages. This review summarizes the methods and the utility of body composition analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, 94110, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*