rss
Br J Sports Med 2004;38:472-476 doi:10.1136/bjsm.2003.005413
  • Original article

Validation of fan beam dual energy x ray absorptiometry for body composition assessment in adults aged 18–45 years

  1. J Norcross1,
  2. M D Van Loan2
  1. 1University of California, Davis, CA, USA
  2. 2USDA-Western Human Nutrition Research Center, University of California, Davis
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Van Loan
 One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; mvanloanwhnrc.usda.gov
  • Accepted 21 May 2003

Abstract

Background: Pencil beam dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been shown to provide valid estimates of body fat (%BF), but DXA fan beam technology has not been adequately tested to determine its validity.

Objective: To compare %BF estimated from fan beam DXA with %BF determined using two and three compartment (2C, 3C) models.

Methods: Men (n  =  25) and women (n  =  31), aged 18–41 years, participated in the study. Body density, from hydrostatic weighing, was used in the 2C estimate of %BF; DXA was used to determine bone mineral content (BMC) for the 3C estimate of %BF calculated using body density and BMC (3CBMC). DXA was also used to determine %BF. Analysis of variance was used to test for significant differences in %BF between sexes and among methods.

Results: Women were significantly shorter, weighed less, had less fat free mass, and a higher %BF than men. No significant differences were found among methods (2C, 3CBMC, DXA) for determination of %BF in either sex. Although not significant, Bland-Altman plots showed that DXA gave higher values for %BF than the 2C and 3CBMC methods.

Conclusion: DXA determination of %BF was not different from that of the 2C and 3CBMC models in this group of young adults. However, to validate fan beam DXA fully as a method for body composition assessment in a wide range of individuals and populations, comparisons are needed that use a 4C model with a measure of total body water and BMC.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.