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PubMed2004

Chart analysis of body composition change among pre- and postadolescent Japanese subjects assessed by underwater weighing method.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of age on the relationship between fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) by applying body composition chart analysis on pre- and postadolescent Japanese subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A sample of 516 children (244 boys and 272 girls) ranging in age from 11 to 17 y and 840 adults (288 male and 552 female subjects) ranging in age from 18 to 59 y were studied to determine a body composition by an underwater weighing method. FMI and FM were put on an x- and y-axis in body composition chart 1, and FFMI (FFM/ height(2)) and FMI (FM/height(2)) were taken on an x- and y-axis in body composition chart 2. RESULTS: In body composition chart 1, the plots for male subjects stayed flat from 11 to 14 y and after that a steady growth of FFM concurring with the FM growth was observed. During the adult stage, steady increments of FM and gradual decreases of FFM were observed. In body composition chart 2, steady increases of FFMI and gradual decreases of FMI were indicated in the male preadolescent period. In the adult stage, FFMI decreased year by year, although the FMI continued to increase. In female subjects, a conspicuous increase of FMI was observed throughout all periods of the present subjects. After middle age, the decline of FFMI was characteristically demonstrated in the chart. CONCLUSION: The relationships between FFM and FM are characteristically delineated on the body composition charts demonstrating clear gender differences. The change of body mass index was not reflecting the change of adiposity level in male subjects, although it was occurring along with the changes of the adiposity level in female subjects.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1999

Correlates of individual differences in body-composition changes resulting from physical training in obese children.

BACKGROUND: No studies have been reported in children that assess correlates of body-composition changes in response to a physical training intervention. OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis studied was that variation in diet and physical activity would explain a significant portion of the interindividual variation in the response of body composition to physical training. DESIGN: The participants were 71 obese children aged 7-11 y (22 boys, 49 girls; 31 whites, 40 blacks). Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, physical activity by a 7-d recall interview, and diet by two, 2-d recalls. The children underwent 4 mo of physical training. RESULTS: The mean attendance was 4 d/wk, the mean (+/-SD) heart rate for the 40-min sessions was 157 +/- 7 beats/min, and the mean energy expenditure was 946 +/- 201 kJ/session. On average, the percentage body fat decreased significantly in the total group, and total mass, fat-free soft tissue, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density increased, but there was a good deal of individual variability. Multiple regression models indicated that in general, more frequent attendance, being a boy, lower energy intake, and more vigorous activity were associated with healthier body-composition changes with physical training. Ethnicity was not retained as a correlate of the change of any component of body composition. CONCLUSIONS: In obese children, age, vigorous activity, diet, and baseline percentage body fat together accounted for 25% of the variance in the change in percentage body fat with physical training.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2005

Improvement in bone mineral density and body composition in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a 1-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Abnormalities in bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, and bone metabolism have been reported in children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during and after completion of therapy. However, these studies are cross-sectional, and no longitudinal data are available in a large group of patients after completion of therapy. In the present study, 1-year longitudinal changes in BMD, body composition, and bone metabolism were evaluated in children with ALL during the first 3 years after completion of therapy without cranial irradiation. METHODS: BMD of total body (TB; g/cm(2)), areal and apparent volumetric lumbar spine (L2-L4), lean body mass, and percentage of body fat were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 37 children (median age: 7.9 years; range: 4.7-20.6 years) who were treated for ALL at a median age of 3.3 years (range: 1.1-16.6 years), after a median time of 2.2 years after the completion of treatment, and after a 1-year follow-up period. Two control subjects (n = 74) who were matched for gender, age, and pubertal stage were also longitudinally investigated for body composition for 1 year. Usual serum biochemical markers of calcium metabolism and bone turnover were measured in patients during the study period. RESULTS: A slight decrease in TB BMD was found after a median time of 2.2 years after the completion of therapy for ALL in childhood. Patients showed a significantly lower median TB BMD when evaluated <1.5 years as compared with those at >or=1.5 years since completion of therapy. At the time of first evaluation, the percentage of body fat mass was significantly higher and patients were physically less active than their matched control subjects. Although, as expected, during the 1 year of follow-up both groups showed an annual increment in their BMD measurements, a significantly higher increase in TB BMD was observed in patients in comparison with control subjects. During this same period, the increase in the percentage of body fat mass was slightly lower in ALL patients as compared with control subjects. At the end of the follow-up year, BMD, body-composition parameters, and physical activity of ALL patients were similar to those observed in matched control subjects. Serum biochemical markers of bone turnover were normal at both evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in TB BMD and a tendency to a lesser increase in percentage of body fat mass were observed during the study period in ALL patients as compared with chronological age-, gender-, and pubertal stage-matched control subjects. These findings suggest a positive effect of long-term completion therapy and increase in physical activity on BMD, body composition, and bone metabolism in patients who have been treated for ALL.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Noninvasive estimation of body composition in small mammals: a comparison of conductive and morphometric techniques.

Body fat stores may serve as an index of condition in mammals. Thus, techniques that measure fat content accurately are important for assessing the ecological correlates of condition in mammal populations. We compared the ability of two conductive techniques, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC), to predict body composition with that of morphometric methods in three small mammal species: red squirrels (n=13), snowshoe hares (n=30), and yellow-bellied marmots (n=4). Animals were livetrapped in northern Idaho; BIA (all subjects) and TOBEC (squirrels only) measurements were taken following chemical immobilization in the field, and morphometric measurements were taken postmortem. Information provided by BIA and TOBEC failed to improve upon the predictive power of morphometric equations for total body water (TBW) and lean body mass (LBM) in squirrels and hares, which do not store substantial amounts of fat (<5% body mass comprised of fat). Although the same pattern held with respect to LBM in marmots, which accumulate substantial amounts of body fat (>10% body mass), a BIA-based model proved best at estimating TBW, suggesting that the usefulness of conductive techniques may be a function of fat deposition. However, regardless of the technique used to predict body composition, estimates of body fat furnished by our equations failed to approximate actual fat levels accurately in all three test species, probably because these techniques only provide indirect estimates of fat content. These results highlight the limitations inherent in contemporary methods of animal fat estimation and underscore the need for the development of direct and accurate measures of body fat in mammals.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of the novel Tanita body-fat analyser to measure body composition by comparison with a four-compartment model.

The Tanita body-fat analyser is a novel device to estimate body fat, based on the principles of bioelectrical impedance. It differs from other impedance systems which use surface electrodes in that the subjects stand bare-footed on a metal sole-plate which incorporates the electrodes, hence impedance is measured through the legs and lower trunk. In 104 men and 101 women (16-78 years and BMI 16-41 kg/m2) the mean bias in body-fat mass measured using the Tanita body-fat analyser was 0.8 (2SD 7.9) kg relative to a four-compartment model. This is comparable to the other prediction techniques tested (conventional tetrapolar impedance -1.3 (2SD 6.9) kg, skinfold thicknesses 0.3 (2SD 7.4) kg, and BMI-based formulas -0.2 (2SD 9.0) kg and -0.6 (2SD 8.5) kg), but the agreement was poorer than for 'reference' methods to measure body fat (density 0.2 (2SD 3.7) kg, total body water -0.9 (2SD 3.4) kg and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry 0.1 (2SD 5.0) kg). The present paper also describes the derivation of a new prediction equation for the calculation of body composition from the Tanita body-fat analyser. The equation incorporates sex, age, and a log-transformation of height, weight and the measured impedance to predict body fat measured by a four-compartment model. This approach is recommended in the derivation of other prediction equations in body composition analysis. Using this novel prediction equation the residual standard deviations were 4.8% for men and 3.3% for women. A similar analysis using data collected with a conventional tetrapolar system yielded residual standard deviations of 4.3% for men and 3.1% for women. This demonstrates that the practical simplicity of the novel Tanita method is not associated with a clinically significant decrement in performance relative to a traditional impedance device.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed1989

Body composition changes in the subtotally nephrectomized rat fed differing dietary proteins.

Changes in body composition are found in chronic uraemia, but it is unclear if this results from poor nutrient intake or is a consequence of impaired renal function. To investigate this question, 31 female Wistar rats were allocated to undergo subtotal nephrectomy or sham operation and were fed diets of either 24% casein or 24% soya protein. Three months later measurements of inulin clearance were undertaken in the conscious animal and the carcass subsequently analyzed for body water and body fat. Subtotally nephrectomized animals had a significantly greater proportion of body water (p less than 0.001) and a lesser proportion of body fat (p less than 0.001) than control animals, and a significant correlation was found between glomerular filtration rate and body fat content (24% casein diet: r = 0.96; 24% soya diet: r = 0.71). The dietary protein source appeared not to influence the body composition. These results support the concept that altered body composition in uraemia is due to renal dysfunction rather than altered nutrient intake.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1986

Body composition in ileostomy patients with and without ileal resection.

Body composition was measured in 24 patients who had previously undergone proctocolectomy and ileostomy. One group (control group) had undergone resection of only small amounts of terminal ileum (median 4 cm), the other group of patients (resected group) had undergone resection of greater lengths of small bowel (median 54 cm). These values of body composition were then compared with predicted values in normal subjects. Proctocolectomy and ileostomy without ileal resection did not significantly affect body weight, or the body contents of fat or water, but led to a reduction in total body nitrogen and total body potassium, suggesting a reduction in fat free mass. A modest resection of the terminal ileum undertaken during the course of proctocolectomy decreased body weight largely because of a reduction in body fat. None of the ileostomy patients was found to be dehydrated.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

Differences in body compositions, growth and food intakes between mice which have been selected for a small and large body size.

1. Q-strain mice selected for high (QLF) or low (QSC) body-weight at 6 weeks of age were compared with respect to their body-weight increases, gross body compositions and food intakes. 2. DNA, RNA, protein and hydroxyproline contents were measured. 3. QLF animals were larger at all stages of development but ate more food and gained more body-weight per unit food intake with an apparently improved efficiency of utilization compared with QSC mice. 4. The efficiency of deposition of dietary energy in Q-strain mice was found to be significantly lower than that of other growing mammals receiving similar energy intakes. 5. Body water, protein and fat of both strains were similar at birth and at 42 d of age but the contribution of fat to body-weight in the preweaning phase was greater for QLF while QSC accreted more fat per unit weight gain in the postweaning period. 6. An increase in cell number made a greater contribution to the growth post partum of the QLF mice, but by 42 d of age little difference between the number of cells per unit weight in the two strains was evident. 7. Despite increases in RNA concentrations at all stages of development, of QLF mice compared with QSC, measurements of body composition do not indicate any accompanying increases of protein concentration in these animals.

Aging↗

PubMed1976

Jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity: early results and body composition changes in forty-five patients.

Forty-five patients who underwent a 14 by 4 inch jejunoileal bypass for morbid obesity were studied before the operation and at periodic intervals after operation to determine the complications and changes in body composition resulting from this procedure. Body composition studies were determined using 3H2O and 42K. Rapid weight loss occurred in the first 3 months, with a mean loss of 30 percent of excess weight. This weight loss was accompanied by a decrease in exchangeable potassium (Ke) and total body water (TBW) during this interval by 14 and 10 percent, respectively. Although most patients continued to lose excess weight Ke and TBW stabilized at the end of the first year and returned to preoperative values in six patients at the end of 24 months. Analysis of the ratios of body cell mass and total body water to weight shows an improvement of body composition 12 months after operation. Body composition studies permit a quantitative assessment of the nutritional status in patients undergoing jejunoileal bypass. In spite of significant complications (23 percent), surgery for morbid obesity appears to satisfy the objective of allowing desirable loss of fat with relative sparing of muscle and other supporting tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Body composition in active acromegaly during treatment with octreotide: a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study.

OBJECTIVE: In active acromegaly body composition is characteristically altered by an increase in lean body mass and a corresponding reduction in fat mass. These changes are induced by an excessive secretion of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Growth hormone is an anabolic hormone and leads to stimulation of protein synthesis and an increased lipolysis in adipose tissue. Treatment with the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, has been shown to reduce GH levels causing reduced hormonal effects on target tissues. We have studied changes in body composition during short-term reduction in GH level by octreotide in active acromegaly. DESIGN: Octreotide was compared to placebo in a double-blind, cross-over trial. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning was employed to calculate body composition. Relations between body composition parameters and clinical signs of acromegaly (finger circumference and foot volume) were studied. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with active acromegaly, confirmed by lack of GH suppression during oral glucose loading, were included. All had pituitary adenomas diagnosed by computed tomography. MEASUREMENTS: Serum GH and IGF-I. Lean body mass, fat mass and total weight, foot volume and finger circumference. RESULTS: Four weeks of octreotide treatment caused a 75% decrease in GH levels (n = 10), a reduction in IGF-I from 476 +/- 51.9 (mean +/- SEM) to 233 micrograms/l +/- 46.3 (P < 0.005) and a corresponding decrease in both body weight (2.51 kg +/- 0.41) (P < 0.005) and lean body mass (2.44 kg +/- 0.48) (P < 0.005). No significant changes in fat mass were observed. These findings were paralleled by significant reductions in foot volume (44.50 ml +/- 17) (P < 0.05) and finger circumference (1.3 mm +/- 0.3) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term octreotide therapy reduces growth hormone levels leading to a significant reduction in lean body mass as assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Alterations in lean body mass were positively correlated with reductions in foot volume. Thus, simple clinical tests may be valuable in judging the effects of treatment in active acromegaly.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2001

Body composition unaltered for African women classified as 'normal but vulnerable' by body mass index and mid-upper-arm-circumference criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that 'normal but vulnerable' adults, as defined by body mass index (BMI) in combination with mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC), are closer to normal than to malnourished ones. For that purpose body composition measurements were compared between normal and low BMI categories and according to MUAC value in an African context and for different age groups. DESIGN: Reanalysis of data from a previous cross-sectional cluster sample nutrition survey. SETTING: A rural area of the Republic of Congo, Central Africa. SUBJECTS: A representative sample (n=544) of non-pregnant women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Arm muscle area was calculated from measurements of triceps skinfold thickness and MUAC. Peripheral body fat was assessed by the sum of four skinfold thicknesses. The ratio of resistance at high and low frequencies was derived from whole body measurement of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and used as the extracellular to total body water ratio index. RESULTS: The prevalence of thinness decreased from 18.7% as defined by BMI alone to 9.0% as defined by BMI and MUAC. This difference was due to the group of subjects classified as 'normal but vulnerable' (9.7%). Prevalence of thinness increased with age when assessed by BMI alone, but no longer when assessed by BMI and MUAC. Comparison with the BMI> or =18.5 kg/m(2) category showed that in 'normal but vulnerable' subjects lower BMI was accompanied by lower both fat and lean compartments, in absolute values, but the equilibrium of body water compartments was not altered. In BMI<18.5 women, low MUAC was associated with altered lean tissues, at peripheral and whole body level, whereas fat tissue did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: 'Normal but vulnerable' subjects appeared as 'thin but healthy' rather than malnourished, at all ages, even though their BMI was lower than 18.5 kg/m(2). The new classification of thinness based on BMI and MUAC provides a more specific index of nutritional status when restricting the thin category to more at-risk subjects.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1983

Association between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and body composition in adult men.

The relationships between measurements of body composition and fasting serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were assessed in 357 men aged 30 to 59 years. The sum of six skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal and medial calf), body density through underwater body weighing, lean body mass (kg), body-fat mass, and percent body fat, all three derived from the Siri equation, were obtained. Effects of age, sex, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, triglycerides, total cholesterol and current energy expenditure were statistically removed through multiple regression procedures. HDL-C was significantly associated with weight, weight/height, weight/height11, weight/height16, body density, body-fat mass, sum of six skinfolds, but not with height alone or lean body mass. These results suggest that, among the body composition measurements, the adipose component is the major contributor to the low but significant association between HDL-C and weight.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Feeding preterm infants after hospital discharge: effect of diet on body composition.

Our purpose in this study was to examine whole body composition, using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) during dietary intervention in preterm infants (< or = 1750 g birthweight, < or = 34 wk gestation). At discharge, infants were randomized to be fed either a preterm infant formula (discharge-6 mo; group A) or a term formula (discharge-6 mo; group B), or the preterm formula (discharge-term) and the term formula (term-6 mo; group C). Nutrient intake was measured between each clinic visit. To measure body composition, DEXA was used at discharge, term, 12 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo corrected age. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. At discharge, no differences were noted in patient characteristics between groups A, B, and C. Although energy intakes were similar, protein and mineral intakes differed between groups (A > C > B; p < 0.0001). During the study, weight gain and LM gain were greater in group A than B. At 12 mo, weight, LM, FM, and BMM but not % FM or BMD were greater in group A than B. However, the effects of diet were confined to boys, with no lasting effects seen in girls. In summary, therefore, DEXA was precise enough to detect differences in whole body composition during dietary intervention. Increased weight gain primarily reflected an increase in LM and is consistent with the idea that the preterm formula more closely met protein and/or protein-energy needs in rapidly growing preterm male infants.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2006

Body composition in untreated adult patients with Laron syndrome (primary GH insensitivity).

OBJECTIVE: To quantify body adiposity and its distribution in untreated adult patients with Laron syndrome (LS; primary GH insensitivity) caused by molecular defects of the GH receptor gene or postreceptor pathways and characterized by dwarfism, obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidaemia. PATIENTS: Eleven LS patients (seven females and four males) aged 28-53 years were studied. Seven healthy males and six healthy females served as controls. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition of the total body trunk, upper and lower extremities was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Statistical analysis using an analysis of variance (anova) and Mann-Whitney nonparametric methods was performed separately in males and females. RESULTS: Percentage body fat in the LS patients was much higher (P < 0.01) than that in the control population and the female LS patients were significantly more obese (59% total body fat) than the male patients (39% total body fat) (P < 0.002). It was also evident that in these types of patients with markedly increased body fat and decreased muscle and bone mass, body mass index (BMI) does not accurately reflect the body composition. CONCLUSIONS: Lifelong congenital IGF-I deficiency leads to extreme adiposity.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2004

Validation of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for determining in vivo body composition of chickens.

The purpose of this study was to validate dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for measuring the body composition of chickens in vivo. Four trials were conducted with broiler chickens using a DXA instrument (Lunar, DPX-L) and small animal total body scan software (version 4.7a). In the first 2 trials, the effects of scan mode (high resolution or detail slow), scanning position (ventral or dorsal), and the use of attenuating materials (AM) (2-mm polyvinyl chloride or 4-mm polystyrene) on the precision and values of the DXA parameters body mass, lean tissue mass, fat tissue mass and percentage, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated. The precision was highest for body mass and lean tissue mass, followed by BMC and BMD, and was lowest for fat tissue mass and percentage. The precision of the measurements was not influenced by scan mode, position, or type of AM. In contrast, the values for all DXA parameters except body mass were significantly influenced by the scan mode but not by the position. The high resolution mode gave significantly higher estimates of fat mass and BMC but significantly lower measures of lean tissue mass and BMD compared with the detail slow mode. A significant difference between AM was only observed for the DXA estimates of fat tissue mass and fat percentage. In trial 3, the accuracy of the DXA measurements was tested by comparison with chemical body composition analysis. Linear regression equations between the respective DXA and chemical parameters were established. High correlations (r > 0.9; P < 0.0001) were obtained for all parameters, except for fat percentage (r = 0.593; P < 0.05). The purpose of the validation trial was to compare the predicted body composition based on the DXA measurements with established equations and the chemical body composition. There was extremely good agreement for body mass, lean tissue mass, and fat tissue mass and percentage, but not for ash weight. It is concluded that, after proper methodological standardization and application of specifically determined regression equations, DXA can be used for estimating the body composition of chickens in vivo. However, the regression equations are strictly limited to one particular instrument, software version, and applied methodology.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2004

The ER22/23EK polymorphism in the glucocorticoid receptor gene is associated with a beneficial body composition and muscle strength in young adults.

Glucocorticoids play an important role in determining body composition. A polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (in codons 22 and 23) has previously been found to be associated with relative glucocorticoid resistance, low cholesterol levels, and increased insulin sensitivity. In this study, we investigated whether this ER22/23EK polymorphism is associated with differences in body composition and muscle strength. We studied a cohort of 350 subjects who were followed from age 13 until 36 yr. We compared noncarriers and carriers of the ER22/23EK variant in anthropometric parameters, body composition, and muscle strength, as measured by arm pull tests and high jump from standing. We identified 27 (8.0%) heterozygous ER22/23EK carriers. In males at 36 yr of age, we found that ER22/23EK carriers were taller, had more lean body mass, greater thigh circumference, and more muscle strength in arms and legs. We observed no differences in body mass index or fat mass. In females, waist and hip circumferences tended to be smaller in ER22/23EK carriers at the age of 36 yr, but no differences in body mass index were found. Thus, the ER22/23EK polymorphism is associated with a sex-specific, beneficial body composition at young-adult age, as well as greater muscle strength in males.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Body composition and peak aerobic power in male international level Hungarian athletes.

Body size, physique, body composition and physiological performance of elite athletes are independent aspects, have aroused the interest of exercise scientists, but studies that combine these aspects in elite athletes are scarcely available. The aim of the present study was to describe the selected anthropometric and exercise physiological characteristics of some Hungarian top athletes. The investigated subjects were qualified Hungarian water polo players (n=25), paddlers (n=24) and modem pentathlonists (n=20), all of whom had been medalists at several continental and intercontinental competitions. The athletes' body composition was estimated by the Drinkwater-Ross (45) body mass fractionation technique. Peak physiological performance was estimated by graded exhausting spiroergometric treadmill exercise. Intergroup differences in mean height, body mass and body composition characteristics were significant at the 5% level of random error. By the results of spiroergometry, all the three groups compared could be qualified as physically excellently trained. The greatest oxygen uptake relative to body mass was found in the modern pentathlonists (73.22 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and the lowest one (59.79) in the water polo players. The authors do not disregard the favourable effects of regular and adequate trainings in the development of the studied characteristics, but in their opinion the process of proper selection has been the most important factor that explains the observed significant intergroup differences.

Body Composition↗

PubMed2007

Body-composition assessment in infancy: air-displacement plethysmography compared with a reference 4-compartment model.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the associations of early infant nutrition and growth with adult health requires accurate assessment of body composition in infancy. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the performance of an infant-sized air-displacement plethysmograph (PEA POD Infant Body Composition System) for the measurement of body composition in infants. DESIGN: Healthy infants (n = 49; age: 1.7-23.0 wk; weight: 2.7-7.1 kg) were examined with the PEA POD system. Reference values for percentage body fat (%BF) were obtained from a 4-compartment (4-C) body-composition model, which was based on measurements of total body water, bone mineral content, and total body potassium. RESULTS: Mean (+/- SD) reproducibility of %BF values obtained with the PEA POD system was 0.4 +/- 1.3%. Mean %BF obtained with the PEA POD system (16.9 +/- 6.5%) did not differ significantly from that obtained with the 4-C model (16.3 +/- 7.2%), and the regression between %BF for the 4-C model and that for the PEA POD system (R2 = 0.73, SEE = 3.7%BF) did not deviate significantly from the line of identity (y = x). CONCLUSIONS: The PEA POD system provided a reliable, accurate, and immediate assessment of %BF in infants. Because of its ease of use, good precision, minimum safety concerns, and bedside accessibility, the PEA POD system is highly suitable for monitoring changes in body composition during infant growth in both the research and clinical settings.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗