Comparison of BIA and DXA for Estimating Body Composition in Collegiate Female Athletes

Authors

  • Brett S. Nickerson University of Alabama
  • Ronald L. Snarr University of Alabama
  • Angela R. Russell University of Alabama
  • Phillip A. Bishop University of Alabama
  • Michael R. Esco University of Alabama (1) Auburn University Montgomery (2)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12922/36

Keywords:

Women, Body Fat, Fat-Free Mass, Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to compare bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for predicting body fat percentage (BF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) in collegiate female athletes.

Methods: Forty-four collegiate female athletes (age = 21.1 ± 2.0 years; height = 166.5 ± 6.9 cm; weight = 63.9 ± 10.0 kg) volunteered to participate in the study.  Each participant’s BF% and FFM was determined via BIA and DXA.

Results: The mean (± SD) BF% determined by DXA was 27.7 ± 5.9% and by BIA was 25.8 ± 3.2%, which was significantly different (p < 0.05).  BIA significantly correlated with DXA (r = 0.71, p < 0.05) for BF% and yielded a SEE of 4.21%.  The limits of agreement (i.e., 95% confidence intervals) for BF% ranged from 10.2% below to 6.4% above the mean difference of -1.9%.  The mean FFM (+/- SD) determined by DXA was 46.2 ± 6.1 kg and by HF-BIA was 47.5 ± 6.0 kg, which was also significantly different (p < 0.05). BIA significantly correlated with DXA (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) for FFM with a SEE of 2.8 kg.  The limits of agreement for FFM ranged from 4.0 kg below to 6.6 kg above the mean difference of 1.3 kg.

Conclusion: Due to significant mean differences and large individual error, BIA does not appear to serve as a suitable surrogate to DXA for evaluating BF% and FFM in collegiate female athletes. Sport practitioners should be aware of the study’s results and use caution when interpreting BIA analyses within this population. 

Author Biographies

Brett S. Nickerson, University of Alabama

Department of Kinesiology

Ronald L. Snarr, University of Alabama

Department of Kinesiology

Angela R. Russell, University of Alabama

Department of Kinesiology

Phillip A. Bishop, University of Alabama

Deparment of Kinesiology

Michael R. Esco, University of Alabama (1) Auburn University Montgomery (2)

Department of Kinesiology (1)

Department of Kinesiology (2)

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Published

2014-07-03

How to Cite

Nickerson, B. S., Snarr, R. L., Russell, A. R., Bishop, P. A., & Esco, M. R. (2014). Comparison of BIA and DXA for Estimating Body Composition in Collegiate Female Athletes. Journal of Sport and Human Performance, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.12922/36

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Original Research Articles