Introduction (Executive Summary)

Body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone and muscle in human bodies.
It is the common name for the methodology of dividing the body into different compartments.
According to Wang et al’s paper from 1992, whose definition has been adopted by the body
composition community, this should preferably be performed within one of five different levels.
(Wang, Z., 1999). Each level has clearly defined components and the sum of components is
equal to the total body weight. The levels are: I, atomic; II, molecular; III, cellular; IV, tissue
system; and V, whole body (Kullberg, 2007).
(Why is measuring body composition good/useful?)
Assessing body composition can be done using various techniques that have been developed.
The techniques that will be discussed in this scientific theoretical review include:
Densitometry, isotope dilution, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Total body electrical
conductivity (TOBEC), Total Body Potassium (TBK), Multicomponent models,
Methods
Densitometry
The conventional standard of assessing body composition in humans is densitometry. This test is
used to measure density and bone mineral content. The standard method of bone densitometry is
the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA/DXA) scan (“Bone Densitometry”, 2010). A
DEXA scan is an imaging test that measures bone density.
 Densitometry is the gold standard for determining human body composition. It is used to
determine bone density and mineral content. The dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
(DEXA/DXA) scan is the standard technique of bone densitometry ("Bone Densitometry",
2010). A DEXA scan is an imaging test used to determine bone density. Densitometry is a two-
compartment model that measures fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM). It assumes that the fat
free component has a density constant of 1.1 kg/L and that fat has a density constant of 0.9 kg/L.
Densitometry determines body density by measuring body mass and volume …
Advantages:
 Bone densitometry helps to detect bone mineral loss at an early stage because it provides
accurate quantitative measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) (KJ, 2011). It can
therefore be used to detect osteopenia or osteoporosis.
  Because it gives an accurate quantitative measurement of bone mineral density (BMD),
bone densitometry aids in the early detection of bone mineral loss (KJ, 2011). As a result,
it can be used to identify osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Drawbacks:
 Although BMD measurements are useful for diagnosis, there is no precise and consistent
relationship between a given increase in BMD and a specific decrease in fracture risk
with osteoporosis therapy.
Although BMD measures can be used to diagnose osteoporosis, there is no clear and
consistent link between a particular increase in BMD and a specified decrease in fracture
risk with osteoporosis medication.

Isotope Dilution
Hydrometry, often known as total body water (TBW) by isotope dilution, is a standard method
for determining body composition at the molecular level. The approach is based on the premise
that water is dispersed throughout the body apart from body fat. Water is only found in fat free
mass (FFM), which is roughly 73.2% water in humans. Water is the most abundant component
of the human body, comprising both internal and extracellular fluid. The body contains roughly
80% water at birth, but as it ages, this proportion reduces to 50-60% in lean individuals and less
than 40% in obese adults.
Check out this link Johann:
https://dapa-toolkit.mrc.ac.uk/anthropometry/objective-methods/hydrometry#:~:text=Hydrometr
y%20or%20total%20body%20water,the%20body%20except%20body%20fat (added to
references)
Advantages:
 This method can be used to evaluate how body composition has changed over time both
before and after an intervention.
This approach may be used to assess how body composition has changed over time, both
before and after an intervention.
 Stable isotopes are safe to be used in pregnant women and children.
Drawbacks:
 However, the equipment, isotope and analysis are expensive, preparation of the isotope
samples might be difficult and time consuming, and this approach makes the assumption
that the isotope is uniformly distributed throughout all anatomical water compartments
and is exclusively present in water.
However, the equipment, isotope, and analysis are costly, and the preparation of the
isotope samples may be complex and time consuming. Furthermore, this technique
 assumes that the isotope is equally distributed throughout all anatomical water
compartments and is only present in water.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Check out this link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233794/ (added to references)

A strong technique for complex body composition analysis is MRI as it can measure muscle
volumes, muscle fat infiltration, and other ectopic fat deposition.
MRI allows to measure body fat-free mass such as skeletal muscle mass at arms, legs and trunk
level, specific organ masses, and provides also an estimate of bone marrow adipose tissue
(Lemos & Gallagher, 2017).
MRI is a powerful tool for analyzing complicated body composition since it can quantify muscle
volumes, muscle fat infiltration, and other ectopic fat deposits. MRI enables for the measurement
of body fat-free mass, such as skeletal muscle mass in the arms, legs, and trunk, as well as
particular organ masses and an estimate of bone marrow adipose tissue.
Advantages:
 No other currently available methods can assess body composition components at the
tissue-system level with the same level of accuracy as MRI (Newberry & Costello, 1997).
No other approach available can analyze body composition components at the tissue-
system level with the same precision as MRI.
 A second major advantage of both CT and MRI is the capability of carrying out cross-
sectional imaging. (Newberry & Costello, 1997).
A second major advantage of both CT and MRI is the capability of carrying out cross-
sectional imaging.
Drawbacks:
 A disadvantage of some MRI systems is that the small bore magnet precludes study of
claustrophobic and very overweight subjects. Open magnet MRI systems are available
but are not in widespread use. The magnetic field generated with MRI also restricts study
of patients with implanted metal objects.
The narrow bore magnet of some MRI systems makes it impossible to investigate
claustrophobic or extremely overweight patients. Although open magnet MRI systems
are available, they are not widely used. The magnetic field produced by MRI also limits
the examination of individuals who have metal items inserted.
 Another disadvantage of MRI is that motion artifacts can affect tissue contrast in the
abdominal region. (Newberry & Costello, 1997).
Another downside of MRI is that motion artifacts in the abdominal area might alter tissue
contrast.
Total Body Electricity Conductivity (TOBEC)
Check out this link Johann:
https://dapa-toolkit.mrc.ac.uk/anthropometry/objective-methods/tobec#:~:text=Total%20body
%20electrical%20conductivity%20(TOBEC)%20analysis%20is%20a%20bioelectrical
%20technique,quantify%20lean%20tissue%20in%20meat
TOBEC analysis evaluates total body electrical conductivity to determine lean body mass.

Total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) analysis is a bioelectrical approach that estimates
lean body mass by measuring total body electrical conductivity. Other aspects can be evaluated
as well. The technique was created to measure lean tissue in meat. The TOBEC approach is
based on the idea that organisms placed in an electro-magnetic field cause the field to change.
The degree of disturbance is determined by the amount and volume of electrolytes present. Fat
free mass (FFM) contains far more water and electrolytes than fat mass (FM), and the strength of
the field is determined by the electrolytes contained in the person's body fluids.

The TOBEC instrument is a scanning device in which the participant glides at a consistent rate
on a motor-driven sled through a 2.5-MHz coil electromagnetic field. The participant going
through the electromagnetic field of the coil absorbs heat energy, causing the electrical field of
the coil to be perturbed. The amount of energy lost in the coil is an indicator of the body's
conductive mass. For adults, the entire body is scanned, and data is captured at 64 points along
the body's length. If the outside coils are roughly twice the length of the body, then the newborn
can be put in the middle of the coils for the measurement. Each evaluation takes about 40
seconds. The participant's electrical conductivity is summarized by an output known as the
TOBEC number.
Advantages:
It outperforms underwater weighing and deuterium dilution, especially for fat free mass.
It is simple to use and requires no preparation on the side of the participant.

Drawbacks:
Hydration status can affect it.
High cost
It is not commonly distributed
Multicomponent Models
In order to get a more accurate estimate of body composition, multi-component models of body
composition incorporate more than one source of measurement data.

Multi-component models of body composition are a type of inference model that employs more
than one source of measurement data to provide a more accurate estimate of body composition.
The human body is divided into components (or "compartments"), each of which comprises a
distinct sort of atomic, molecular, cellular, or tissue material. These elements may be evaluated
and combined to define the human body's structure.
Check out this link Johann:
https://dapa-toolkit.mrc.ac.uk/anthropometry/objective-methods/multi-component-models (added
to references)
Advantages:
 By giving data on the hydration, density, and mineralization of fat-free mass, multi-
component models address variability in fat-free mass. This is crucial in populations that
divert from the fixed constants anticipated by 2C models.

Multi-component models handle fat-free mass variations by providing data on hydration,

density, and mineralization. This is especially important in populations that deviate from
the fixed constants predicted by 2C models.
Drawbacks:
 The cost of data collection and processing varies depending on the number of model
components tested. Therefore, the more components that are measured, the higher the
overall cost will be.
The cost of collecting and processing data varies with the number of model components
examined. As a result, the greater the number of components assessed, the higher the
overall cost.
 Inability to access the numerous tools needed to evaluate the various components.
 The methods call for a wide range of competence in data gathering and analysis; as a
result, they may be appropriate for a research context but are impractical in a clinical
setting.
The procedures need a broad variety of expertise in data collection and processing; as a
result, they may be excellent for research but are impracticable in a therapeutic
environment.
References
Bone densitometry. Bone Densitometry | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021, August 8). Retrieved
November 8, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-
therapies/bone-densitometry
Chun, K. J. (2011, March 25). Bone densitometry. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine. Retrieved
November 8, 2022, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001299810001595
Kullberg, J. (2007). Assessment of Body Composition Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(dissertation)
Wang, Z., Wang, Z. M., & Heymsfield, S. B. (1999). History of the study of human body
composition: A brief review. American journal of human biology : the official journal of
the Human Biology Council, 11(2), 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-
6300(1999)11:2<157::AID-AJHB3>3.0.CO;2-M
KJ, C. (2011, May). Bone densitometry. Seminars in nuclear medicine. Retrieved November 9,
2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21440697/
Lemos, T., & Gallagher, D. (2017). Current body composition measurement techniques. Current
opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity, 24(5), 310–314.
https://doi.org/10.1097/MED.0000000000000360
Hydrometry. DAPA Measurement Toolkit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from
https://dapa-toolkit.mrc.ac.uk/anthropometry/objective-methods/hydrometry#:~:text=Hydr
ometry%20or%20total%20body%20water,the%20body%20except%20body%20fat.
Newberry, S. J., & Costello, R. B. (1997). Emerging technologies for nutrition research:
Potential for Assessing Military Performance Capability. National Academy Press.
Multi-component models. DAPA Measurement Toolkit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022,
from https://dapa-toolkit.mrc.ac.uk/anthropometry/objective-methods/multi-component-
models

Use this link for your references in APA format: https://www.citationmachine.net/apa

Shania Notes:
 You may want to expand on the methods themselves more
 Maybe see if you can compare/contrast any of them
 Currently, the method that needs the most work is TOBEC (Had to pause there)
 A lot of this needs to be rephrased as well since I copied and pasted a bit. So
paraphrasing is needed.