Bioelectric impedance phase angle and body composition

Abstract

The use of bioelectric impedance phase angle for predicting body composition was determined in 53 males and 69 females 9-62 y of age. The phase angle describes the amount of reactance (Xc) in a conductor relative to the amount of resistance (R). Bioelectric resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) were determined for the whole body and separately for arm, leg, and trunk. Weight, stature, and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body composition was determined from densitometry. Phase angles for the trunk (phi t), leg (phi 1), and whole body (phi w) had significant (p less than 0.05) negative correlations with percent body fat (%BF) in each sex, and positive correlations with fat-free mass (FFM) in males. In multiple regression analyses, phi t was associated significantly with %BF after controlling for age, mean skinfold thickness, and weight/stature2 in each sex. Bioelectric phase angle for the trunk may be useful for predicting %BF in clinical and survey research.