title: Tanita foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis system validated in older adults.
abstract: Simple, accurate, and noninvasive methods for assessing body composition are needed in many clinical, community, and research settings. The foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) system may be one method of addressing those needs. The objective of this study was to determine the validity of a foot-to-foot BIA system for body-composition assessment of older adults. Subjects 55 years of age or older without functional limitations or cognitive impairments (N=50) were measured using both the Tanita foot-to-foot system (Tanita Corporation of America, Inc, Arlington Heights, IL) and traditional hand-to-foot BIA. The correlation for percent body fat measurements between the Tanita and traditional BIA was r=0.84 (P<.001). Percent body fat estimates from both BIA measures were significantly correlated with waist circumference, body mass index, and age (all P<.01). The Tanita BIA system provides a valid measure of percent body fat in older adults, and could be a convenient and practical approach for assessment in public health settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Julie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Carla K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smiciklas-Wright
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio