Abstract
Bioelectrical Impedance method for measuring human body composition is based upon the principle that the electrical conductivity of the fat-free mass (FFM) is far greater than that of the (at. Deter- mination o( impedance was nlade in 30 healthy and obese men aged $40.9{\pm}14.7$yr (mean${\pm}$SD) and 25 healthy and obese women aged $44.0{\pm}10.2$ yr. A commercial impedance body fat analyzer was used with a four electrode arrangement that introduced a painless constant current(ImA at 50 kHz) into the body. Linear relationships were found between impudence values and FFM(r=-0.786) and between weight and FFM(r=0.837). Signigicant increases in the correlation coefficients were ob served when the predicator Hta/z was regressed against FFM(r=0.912) where Ht Is height and Z Is impedance. A linear regression equation, FFM=0.586(Htf/z) +0.317(Weight) -1.674(r=0.977), was found. The correlation coefficient of % body fat between the impedance and infrared methods was 0.898. These data Indicate that the bioelectrical impedance technique is a reliable and valld approach for the estimation of human body composition. This method Is safe, noninvasivr, prouides rapld measure menu, requires little operator skill and subject cooperation, and Os portable. Finally measurement of percent body fat was made possible using both the regression equation and a developed impedance measuring device which measures impedance between wrist and ankle.
