Validation of iDXA for body composition - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the measurement of body composition.
IRAS ID
266713
Contact name
Catherine Gibbons
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
Overweight, obesity and associated diseases are key societal challenges to the health of European citizens. Obesity accounts for 3–8% of health costs and 10–13% of deaths in different parts of the region (World Health Organisation, 2013). This translates into €59 billion a year in health care costs. The overall impact could be as high as €118 to €236 billion, because obesity is linked to a range of physical and psychological illnesses (Branca, Nikogosian, Lobstein, & World Health Organization., 2007). These costs are set to rise in parallel with obesity prevalence (Wang, McPherson, Marsh, Gortmaker, & Brown, 2011).
Beyond the use of body weight as a measure of obesity, existing evidence suggests the importance the determination of an individual’s body composition (Rotella and Dicembrini, 2015). Given its affordability and simplicity, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) represents a feasible tool in an epidemiological clinical setting (Duren et al., 2008). Despite this, uncertainty remains regarding the accuracy of BIA, and this is particularly true for obese populations where BIA tends to underestimate body fat percentage (Sun et al., 2005). BodPod, which employs air displacement plethysmography (ADP) is considered a suitable method (Foucart et al., 2017). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is used to measure whole-body bone mass and soft tissue composition and it is widely considered a gold standard measure in body composition (Shepherd et al., 2017). Compared to DXA, the magnitude of error in ADP has been observed to differ depending of the BMI of the participants; overestimating in thinner participants and underestimated body fat in heavier subject, reaching 13% in some cases (Lowry, 2015).
Therefore, this study has two aims: 1) to validate currently used BIA and ADP measurement tools against iDXA and 2) to test the agreement between iDXA, bodpod and ADP in nomal weight, overweight and obese individuals.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0387
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion