Validity of Body Composition Estimates in Women Assessed by a Multifrequency Bioelectrical Impedance Device.

Background: Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance devices such as the InBody 770 (IB770) offer faster measurements and lower costs compared with other body composition assessments. This study validated measures from IB770 against the deuterium oxide dilution technique (D2O) and DXA and compared a four-compartment (4C) model using total body water (TBW) derived from IB770 compared with D2O.

Methods: A total of 55 adult females (mean ± SD, age: 21.1 ± 2.6 years) completed IB770 and DXA scans and the D2O protocol. Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs), Bland-Altman analyses, and other equivalence tests evaluated agreement between IB770 and the criterion for measures of fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and TBW individually and as part of 4C models.

Results: There was substantial agreement between IB770 and D2O for TBW (MD = Mean Difference) (MD = 0.34 L, CCC = 0.98) and between the IB770 and DXA for FM (MD = -0.22 kg, CCC = 0.99). IB770 overestimated FFM compared with DXA (MD = 3.15 kg, CCC = 0.91). Both 4C models had almost perfect agreement for FM (CCC = 0.99), FFM (CCC = 0.99), and body fat percentage (CCC = 0.99).

Conclusions: IB770 is valid for assessing TBW and can be used within the context of a 4C model in females.