Comparison of generalized and athletic bioimpedance-based predictive equations for estimating fat-free mass in resistance-trained exercisers
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to test whether athlete-specific, bioelectrical, impedance-based equations to estimate fat-free mass (FFM) could be more accurate than generalized equations when testing resistance-trained exercisers.Methods A total of 50 resistance-trained men (age 30.9 ± 7.4 y; body mass index: 25.3 ± 2.2 kg/m 2) and 20 men from the general population (age 29.9 ± 9.1 y; body mass index: 22.8 ± 2.4 kg/m 2) underwent bioelectrical impedance and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) evaluations. FFM was derived by one bioelectrical impedance-based equation specific for athletes and three generalized equations, all developed with foot-to-hand bioimpedance technologies at a 50 kHz frequency. DXA was the reference method for the FFM assessment.Results Compared with DXA, when assessing the resistance-trained participants, the athletic-specific equation had neither mean (-0.89 kg; P = 0.789) or proportional bias (r = -0.104; P = 0.474) with a coefficient of determination equal to R 2 = 0.91. In contrast, the three generalized predictive equations overestimated FFM (range, 4.11-5.37 kg; P < 0.05) with R 2 ranging from 0.84 to 0.90. The athletic-specific equation underestimated FFM in the general population participants (-2.93 kg; P < 0.05).Conclusions When assessing body composition in resistance-trained exercisers, specific equations for athletes should be preferred to generalized ones to avoid an overestimation in FFM. Furthermore, athlete-specific and generalized formulas cannot be used interchangeably, even when assessing body composition in the general population.
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The underestimation could be due to different body composition features, such as lower FFM values that discriminate the general population from athletes.
“This could be due to different body composition features, such as lower FFM values that discriminate the general population with respect to the athletic one [42].”
The appropriate use of predictive equations in estimating body composition through BIA depends on the device used and the subject's age, geographical ancestry, health status, physical activity level and sex.
“The appropriate use of predictive equations in estimating body composition through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) depends on the device used and the subject’s age, geographical ancestry, healthy status, physical activity level and sex.”
From High-standard predictive equations for estimating body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis: a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Campa, F., Matias, C. N., Teixeira, F. J., Reis, J. F., Valamatos, M. J., Coratella, G., & Monteiro, C. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Centro de Investigação em Desporto Educação Física Exercício e Saúde (PT)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Coratella, Giuseppe
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-10
- Volume
- 102
- Pages
- 111694
- ISSN
- 0899-9007 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4224291110
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electrical and Bioimpedance Tomography
- Keywords
- fat-free mass, bioimpedance, resistance-trained athletes, body composition assessment, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Composition, Humans, Male, Sports, Reproducibility of Results, Absorptiometry, Photon, Body Mass Index, Electric Impedance, Young Adult
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