2016 Student Research Conference:
29th Annual Student Research Conference

Relationship of BIA Devices to DXA for Estimating %fat in Women Athletes
Ashton D. Austin
Prof. Liz Jorn and Dr. Jerry Mayhew, Faculty Mentors

Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) devices now flood the market purporting to accurately estimate %fat. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of selected BIA devices compared with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for estimating %fat. Forty-eight college athletes (15 basketball, 19 softball, and 14 track) were measured for %fat using 4 BIA devices and DXA. Results indicated that DXA %fat (30.2 ? 6.0%) was significantly higher than all BIA devices. A hand-to-hand BIA produced the lowest estimate of %fat (24.7 ? 5.3%) but had the highest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.919). Three foot-to-foot BIAs produced significantly higher %fat estimates (25.5 ? 6.8, 26.5 ? 7.3, and 26.6 ? 7.3%) with lower ICC values (ICC = 0.849 to 0.919). ICC among all 4 BIA devices was 0.964 suggesting similar trends for estimating %fat. Care should be taken when using inexpensive BIA devices to estimate %fat in women athletes.

Keywords: BIAs, Body Composition, Percent Fat, Athletics, DEXA

Topic(s):Exercise Science
Health Science

Presentation Type: Poster

Session: 7-5
Location: GEO-SUB
Time: 3:30

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