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Cited by 115Body Composition Measurement TechniquesElectrical and Bioimpedance TomographySports Performance and Training

Bioelectrical impedance analysis versus reference methods in the assessment of body composition in athletes

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Campa, Francesco, Gobbo, Luis Alberto, Stagi, Silvia, Cyrino, Leticia Trindade, Toselli, Stefania, Marini, Elisabetta, Coratella, Giuseppe·2022·European Journal of Applied Physiology
DOI 10.1007/s00421-021-04879-y
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Abstract

The present systematic review aimed to compare the accuracy of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) vs. reference methods for the assessment of body composition in athletes. Studies were identified based on a systematic search of internationally electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) and hand searching of the reference lists of the included studies. In total, 42 studies published between 1988 and 2021 were included. The methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies as recommended by the National Institute of Health. Twenty-three studies had an overall good rating in terms of quality, while 13 were rated as fair and 6 as poor, resulting in a low to moderate risk of bias. Fat mass was inconsistently determined using BIA vs. the reference methods, regardless of the BIA-technology. When using the foot to hand technology with predictive equations for athletes, a good agreement between BIA and the reference methods was observed for fat-free mass, total body, intra and extra cellular water. However, an underestimation in fat-free mass and body fluids was found when using generalized predictive equations. Classic and Specific BIVA represented a valid approach for assessing body fluids (Classic BIVA) and percentage of fat mass (Specific BIVA). The present systematic review suggests that BIA and BIVA can be used for assessing body composition in athletes, provided that foot-to-hand technology, predictive equations, and BIVA references for athletes are used.

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  • Many of these studies merely mention the type of software employed, making it impossible to discern which formulas were used to convert raw bioelectrical parameters into components of body mass.

    “Many of these studies merely mention the type of software employed, making it impossible to discern which formulas were used to convert raw bioelectrical parameters into components of body mass.”

    From High-standard predictive equations for estimating body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis: a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [24]

    The discussion (section 365; page unavailable) says studies using hand-to-hand, leg-to-leg, and direct segmental BIA did not report the predictive equations used to determine percentage fat mass. The review therefore supports the difficulty of identifying the formulas, but the passages do not establish the more specific claim that those studies merely named the software employed. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Various studies including those providing reference data based on BIA do not disclose the procedures used.

    “A further question is that various studies including those providing reference data based on BIA do not disclose the procedures used [24, 28].”

    From High-standard predictive equations for estimating body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis: a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [24]

    In “BIA vs. reference methods: FM and FFM” (lines 262–271), the review says only seven of 16 studies using foot-to-hand BIA to assess fat mass reported their predictive equations. It therefore supports a narrower concern about undisclosed analytical methods, but does not establish that studies providing BIA-based reference data failed to disclose their procedures generally. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Campa, F., Gobbo, L. A., Stagi, S., Cyrino, L. T., Toselli, S., Marini, E., & Coratella, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Bologna (IT)
  • University of Cagliari (IT)
  • University of Milan (IT)
Corresponding author
Coratella, Giuseppe
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-01-24
Volume
122
Issue
3
Pages
561-589
ISSN
  • 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-6319
  • 1439-6327
DOI
10.1007/s00421-021-04879-y
OpenAlex
W4207084747
Cited by
115
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 20
FWCI
3.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UNICA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Cagliari) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electrical and Bioimpedance Tomography
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
bioelectrical impedance analysis, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis, body composition, athletes, fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water, prediction equations, measurement accuracy, reference method
MeSH terms
Body Composition, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Reference Values, Electric Impedance, Athletes

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