Comparative Study Of The College Students Body Composition By Different Measurement And Assessment

Objective: The study sets dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) as the goldstandard, aiming at comparing the percentage of body fat come from three differentmethods, which are bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), Ultrasound Apparatus (UA)and body mass index(BMI), exploring the distribution characteristic of body fat ofcollege students at different age and sex, and researching into the variation of percentageof body fat of college students by different methods and their correlation. The study isgoing figure out the proper method of assessment and prediction equation of collegestudents’body fat mass and percentage that are simple, valid and accurate, and to providethe technique support for the adults and the elder in the following research.Method: The study selected87college students (31males and56females) as thesubjects, assured that each sexual have four bodytypes by calculating BMI. The bodycomposition of each subject was measured by DEXA, BIA, UA. The data was processedby statistics method, including correlation analysis, regression analysis and consistencytest.Results and Conclusion:1. The body fat distribution differs among different bodytype. As the bodytype increasing,percentage of body fat, girth and skinfold fat thickness in both male and female studentsincrease too. The increment differs, and the trunk, especially the abdominal region iswhere the body fat mass increases the most.2. Compared to females, males are more likely to accumulate fat in trunk, whereasfemales’fat distributes heterogeneously in trunk and limbs.3. To assess the fat level by BMI is not accurate, it overestimates the fat level of malesbut underestimates females. Assessing fat level by waist circumference criterion is validfor male college students but might underestimate the females.4. The percentage of body fat by BIA and the result by DEXA has good correlation, butthe measured value and real value has discrepancy and that needs attention when using.5. The percentage of body fat by UA and the result by DEXA has good correlation, butthe measured value and real value has discrepancy and that needs attention when using.