Body composition by air-displacement plethysmography by using predicted and measured thoracic gas volumes.

The BOD POD, a new air-displacement plethysmograph for measuring human body composition, utilizes the inverse relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's law) to measure body volume directly. The quantity of air in the lungs during tidal breathing, the average thoracic gas volume (Vtg), is also measured by the BOD POD by using a standard plethysmographic technique. Alternatively, the BOD POD provides the use of a predicted Vtg (Vtgpred). The validity of using Vtgpred in place of measured Vtg (Vtgmeas) to determine the percentage of body fat (%BF) was evaluated in 50 subjects (36 women, 14 men; ages 18-56 yr). There was no significant difference between Vtgmeas and Vtgpred (mean difference +/- SE, 53.5 +/- 63.3 ml) nor in %BF by using Vtgmeas vs. Vtgpred (0.2 +/- 0.2 %BF). On an individual basis, %BF measured by using Vtgmeas vs. Vtgpred differed within +/-2.0% BF for 82% of the subjects; maximum differences were -2.9 to +3.0% BF. For comparison, data from 24 subjects who had undergone hydrostatic weighing were evaluated for the validity of using predicted vs. measured residual lung volume (VRpred vs. VRmeas, respectively). Differences between VRmeas and VRpred and in %BF calculated by using VRmeas vs. VRpred were significant (187 +/- 46 ml and 1.4 +/- 0.3% BF, respectively; P < 0.001). On an individual basis, %BF determined by using VRmeas vs. VRpred differed within +/-2.0% BF for 46% of the subjects; maximum differences were -2.9 to +3.8% BF. With respect to %BF measured by air displacement, our findings support the use of Vtgpred for group mean comparisons and for purposes such as screening in young to middle-aged individuals. This contrasts with the use of VRpred in hydrostatic weighing, which leads to significant errors in the estimation of %BF. Furthermore, although the use of Vtgpred has some application, determining Vtgmeas is relatively simple in most cases. Therefore, we recommend that the use of Vtgmeas remain as standard experimental and clinical practice.

Evaluation of a new air displacement plethysmograph for measuring human body composition.

A new air displacement plethysmograph, the BOD POD (BP), was evaluated in comparison to hydrostatic weighing (HW). Sixty-eight adult subjects (26 F, 42 M) varying widely in age (range 20-56 yr), ethnicity, and fatness participated in this study. Same-day test-retest reliability was assessed in a subsample of 16 subjects (9 F, 7 M) and validity was assessed in all subjects (N = 68). The test-retest coefficients of variation (CV) for %FAT measured by BP (%FATBP) and HW (%FATHW) were not significantly different (1.7% +/- 1.1% and 2.3% +/- 1.9% for BP and HW, respectively (mean +/- SD)), indicating excellent reliability for both methods. Validity of percent fat measured by the BP (%FATBP) was also excellent. The mean difference in %FAT (BP - HW) was -0.3 +/- 0.2 (SEM), with a 95% confidence interval of -0.6 to 0 %FAT. The regression equation (%FATHW = 1.86 + 0.94 %FATBP; r2 = 0.93, SEE = 1.81) was not significantly different from the line of identity (%FATHW = %FATBP), and did not differ by gender. These findings indicate that the BOD POD is a highly reliable and valid method for determining %FAT in adult humans in comparison to HW. This new method has several advantages over HW in that it is quick, relatively simple to operate and may be able to accommodate special populations such as the obese, elderly, and disabled.