Evaluation of Techniques .

This article evaluates different techniques for measuring body composition including hydrostatic weighing, bioelectrical impedance, and 3D body scanners. Strengths, limitations, and associated risks of each method are discussed.

Running head: EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES
Evaluation of Techniques
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1EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES
Method Strength Limitation Accuracy
Hydrostatic
weighing
The net body
volume is not
required to be
known as a part of
calculation. The
time required for
performing the test
is very short. No
side effects are
experienced as a
result of this
method.
The clinical arrangement
required for hydrostatic
weighing involves a high cost of
clinical setup. The setup covers
a large floor space. The
technical equipment is not easily
accessible in general. The exact
localizations of body fat are not
identified by this method.
Chances of error lie in assuming
residual volume of lungs.
Professionals trained in this
method can only conduct this
test.
It is the most
accurate
compared to
other methods of
body fat
determination.
1.5% error limit
is encountered
which is the least
possible limit
(Casey 2013).
Bioelectrica
l impedance
Simplicity,
reliability, safety
and portability of
the equipment
makes it a more
recommended
technique. Minimal
technical skills are
required to operate
the equipment. Both
The body geometry appears
different with respect to
different levels of obese
conditions. Therefore, the body
water distribution also appears
different. The hydration factor
has to be constant to validate the
calculations (Kyle et al. 2015).
Assumption of hydration factor
limit the validity of the method.
The method
proves to be
accurate only
when performed
under clinical
considerations.
Applying
generalized
equation to
calculate body fat

2EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES
the body mass and
percentage of body
fat can be known
accurately by this
method.
proves to be
inaccurate in
different ethnic
populations.
3D body
scanners
The 3D scanning
method is a contact-
free reliable method,
posing no health
associated risk post
scanning. Diverse
calculations are
done in less time.
Scanning data can
be easily accessed
immediately post
scanning.
The scanning technology
involves an excessively high
cost of producing the
component parts. The entire
scanning procedure requires
calibration; without calibration
accuracy of data is not obtained.
Digitization of large body
surfaces require much longer
time. The method requires
remaining immobile during
scanning; however, keeping
head and full body immobile
during scanning time is not
possible (Bragança, Arezes and
Carvalho 2015). The technique
fails to identify the body
landmarks of morphology
relating to ergonomic theory.
The three
dimensional
body scanning
method is highly
accurate in that
no calibration or
assumption is
required in
producing the
data.

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4EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES
References
Bragança, S., Arezes, P.M. and Carvalho, M., 2015. An overview of the current three-
dimensional body scanners for anthropometric data collection. Arezes PM, Baptista JS,
Barroso MP, Carneiro P, Cordeiro P, Costa N et al, pp.149-154.
Casey, A.F., 2013. Measuring body composition in individuals with intellectual disability: a
scoping review. Journal of obesity, 2013.
Kyle, U.G., Earthman, C.P., Pichard, C. and Coss-Bu, J.A., 2015. Body composition during
growth in children: limitations and perspectives of bioelectrical impedance
analysis. European journal of clinical nutrition, 69(12), p.1298.