Are Bioelectrical Impedance and Skinfolds Considered Valid Measures for Tracking Body Composition Following Resistance Training when DEXA is the Criterion Measure?

• Main Author: Inglis, J. Greig
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2001
• Subjects: BIA; Resistance training; Body Composition; DEXA; Skinfolds; Kinesiology; Life Sciences
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/124; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1174&context=etd

The present study was designed to determine if BIA and skinfolds could track changes in body composition like DEXA. Fifty male volunteers participated in a 12-week high-intensity resistance-training program. Body composition was assessed using DEXA, skinfolds (SF), and BIA. Results indicate when DEXA was used as the criterion measure; BIA and SF may not be appropriate assessment techniques. BIA and SF significantly overestimated percent fat and fat-weight pre- and post-treatment (p<0.05). Although SF and BIA exhibited acceptable r-values, significant differences were observed between DEXA and BIA and SF (p < 0.0001). These results indicate that DEXA’s ability to track changes in body composition may be more appropriate compared to BIA and SF during and following a resistance-training program. Future studies using hydrostatic weighing are needed to determine if differences observed are the results of DEXA’s accuracy in tracking fat free-weight or the inability of BIA and skinfolds to track changes.