Use of bioelectrical impedance analysis in the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of overweight and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To present an overview of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and to familiarize nurse practitioners (NPs) with the potential benefits of using BIA in prevention, monitoring, and long-term follow-up of healthy individuals and those with chronic conditions (e.g., obesity).


METHODS
Original research articles and comprehensive review articles identified through Medline, CINAHL, OVID, and electrical engineering databases.


CONCLUSIONS
Obtaining serial measurements of percent body fat using BIA can identify patients at greatest health risk and gives NPs an additional tool to assess treatment response in patients seeking to lose or maintain body weight and/or increase muscle mass.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditionally, height/weight tables and body mass index have been used to assess body composition and diagnose overweight and obesity. More recently, BIA has emerged as a portable and simple-to-operate instrument to evaluate body composition in the clinical setting.
Ricciardi
Richard
R
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20012, USA. rricciardi@usuhs.mil
Talbot
Laura A
LA
D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D017097:Electric Impedance / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment