The validation of contemporary body composition methods in various races and ethnicities

Few investigations have evaluated the validity of current body composition technology among racially and ethnically diverse populations. This study assessed the validity of common body composition methods in a multi-ethnic sample stratified by race and ethnicity. One hundred and ten individuals (55 % female, age: 26 center dot 5 (sd 6 center dot 9) years) identifying as Asian, African American/Black, Caucasian/White, Hispanic, Multi-racial and Native American were enrolled. Seven body composition models (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), air displacement plethysmography (ADP), two bioelectrical impedance devices (BIS, IB) and three multi-compartment models) were evaluated against a four-compartment criterion model by assessing total error (TE) and standard error of the estimate. For the total sample, measures of % fat and fat-free mass (FFM) from multi-compartment models were all excellent to ideal (% fat: TE = 0 center dot 94-2 center dot 37 %; FFM: TE = 0 center dot 72-1 center dot 78 kg) compared with the criterion. % fat measures were very good to excellent for DXA, ADP and IB (TE = 2 center dot 52-2 center dot 89 %) and fairly good for BIS (TE = 4 center dot 12 %). For FFM, single device estimates were good (BIS; TE = 3 center dot 12 kg) to ideal (DXA, ADP, IB; TE = 1 center dot 21-2 center dot 15 kg). Results did not vary meaningfully between each race and ethnicity, except BIS was not valid for African American/Black, Caucasian/White and Multi-racial participants for % fat (TE = 4 center dot 3-4 center dot 9 %). The multi-compartment models evaluated can be utilised in a multi-ethnic sample and in each individual race and ethnicity to obtain highly valid results for % fat and FFM. Estimates from DXA, ADP and IB were also valid. The BIS may demonstrate greater TE for all racial and ethnic cohorts and results should be interpreted cautiously.