A Comparative and Sex-Specific Study of Bio-Electrical Impedance Analysis and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry for Estimating Whole-Body and Segmental Body Composition in Healthy Young Adults

Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are methods to estimate human body composition. This study aimed to compare sex-specific outcomes for estimating segmental and whole-body composition in 83 healthy participants (21.9 +/- 1.5 years, 56% men) using Inbody S10 BIA and Norland Elite DXA devices. One-way repeated measures ANOVAs showed significantly lower whole-body fat% and whole-body fat mass values alongside higher whole-body lean mass values resulting from BIA when compared to DXA (both sexes: p < 0.001). In men, whole-body bone mineral content was significantly higher using BIA against DXA (p < 0.001). Regardless of sex, no significant BIA versus DXA difference was found in arm fat mass (men: p = 0.180, women: p = 0.233), whereas significantly lower leg fat mass values were found with BIA versus DXA (both sexes: p < 0.001). Additionally, significantly higher arm lean mass (both sexes: p < 0.001) and leg lean mass (only women: p < 0.001) were found in BIA versus DXA. Moderate to very strong positive associations (p < 0.05) between BIA and DXA outcome measures were found, except for arm fat mass (men: p = 0.904, women: p = 0.130) and leg fat mass (only men: p = 0.845). This study highlights (sex-dependent) differences in corresponding test outcomes between BIA and DXA both at the segmental and whole-body level.

Automated summary

This study compared the sex-specific outcomes of estimating segmental and whole-body composition using BIA and DXA methods. The results showed that BIA measured lower whole-body fat percentage and fat mass, as well as higher lean mass, compared to DXA. However, in men, BIA measured higher whole-body bone mineral content. There were no significant differences between BIA and DXA in arm fat mass for both sexes, but BIA measured significantly lower leg fat mass. Additionally, BIA measured significantly higher arm and leg lean mass. The study found strong positive associations between BIA and DXA outcome measures, except for arm and leg fat mass in men.