Agreement between ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in assessing percentage body fat in college-aged adults.
BACKGROUND
The BodyMetrix(®) BX-2000 Ultrasound device (ULTRA) shows prowess in being an effective alternative to the expense and technicality of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, this technique has not been investigated using a seven-site methodology.
To employ a cross-over design to investigate the agreement between ULTRA using a seven-site methodology and DXA in assessing body fat (%BF) in a normal-weight sample of college-age men and women.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 84, BMI = 23.6 ± 3.6 kg m(-²), age = 23.0 ± 4.7 years) participated in this study with %BF measurements following the manufacturer's specifications.


RESULTS
Significant differences were observed between methods with ULTRA less than DXA (difference = 4.4 ± 0.8%, t-statistic = 7.27, P<0.001) with no difference between men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study showed that ULTRA using a seven-site methodology did not agree with DXA in measuring %BF. Thus, this investigational ULTRA methodology might not be appropriate in estimating %BF in this population.
Department of Sport Science and Wellness Education, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA; Department of Health Exercise and Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Kelly E
KE
Johnson
Brian
B
Miller
Judith A
JA
Juvancic-Heltzel
Sarah E
SE
Agnor
Dana L
DL
Kiger
Rachele M
RM
Kappler
Ronald
R
Otterstetter
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000295:instrumentation; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation; D055815:Young Adult
DXA; body composition analysis; percentage body fat; ultrasound device