title: The accuracy of hand-to-hand bioelectrical impedance analysis in predicting body composition in college-age female athletes.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the accuracy of hand-to-hand bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for estimating body composition in college-age female athletes using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as the criterion measure. Forty National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics college female athletes volunteered to participate in this study. For each participant, total body fat percentage (BF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were obtained via BIA and DEXA. The mean BF% and FFM values obtained by BIA were compared with the criterion DEXA measure. The DEXA strongly correlated to the BIA for BF% (r = 0.74, R2 = 0.55, SEE = 3.60, and p < 0.01) and FFM (r = 0.84, R2 = 0.71, SEE = 2.45, p < 0.01). However, when compared with the DEXA, the mean values for BIA were significantly lower for BF% (DEXA = 27.6 ± 5.3%, BIA = 22.5 ± 3.5%, p < 0.01) and higher for FFM (DEXA = 47.2 ± 4.5 kg, BIA = 50.6 ± 4.6 kg, p < 0.01). The results of this investigation indicate that hand-to-hand BIA significantly underestimates BF% and overestimated FFM in college-age female athletes when compared with the criterion DEXA. Practitioners should use caution when analyzing body composition with hand-held BIA in a population of athletic women.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science, Auburn University Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama, USA. mesco@aum.edu
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Esco
authors.forename: Michele S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Henry N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Williford
authors.forename: Suheil N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lizana
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D056352:Athletes; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult