DETERMINATION OF BODY COMPOSITION BY SEGMENTAL BIOELETRICAL IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS: CONSIDERATIONS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance is a fast, inexpensive, easy, portable, and noninvasive method. A major innovation in the analysis of body composition is segmental bioelectrical impedance. Objectives: To assess the applicability of segmental bioelectrical impedance. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on female subjects divided into two groups: Group I (n =8) consisted of healthy women and group II (n=25) of obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). All subjects were submitted to examination by total and segmental bioelectrical impedance. Results and discussion: Anthropometric parameters (weight, BMI, total lean mass and total fat mass) showed significant differences between groups. There was a significant difference between groups I and II for all body segments evaluated, except for lean mass of the leg. Conclusion: Procedures of segmental bioelectrical impedance will be increasingly useful in the nutritional assessment of tissue masses, enabling assessment that is more sensitive and monitoring of nutritional care.