"Just Plain Inaccurate" : Ensuring the Accuracy and Dependability of the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) Device in the Health Fitness Industry

Presenter Information

Jacob Mehrhoff, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

9-4-2012 1:00 PM

End Date

9-4-2012 2:30 PM

Student's Major

Human Performance

Student's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Mentor's Name

Stacy Ebner

Mentor's Department

Human Performance

Mentor's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Second Mentor's Name

Robert Pettitt

Second Mentor's Department

Human Performance

Second Mentor's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Third Mentor's Name

Rachel Wentz

Third Mentor's Deparment

Human Performance

Third Mentor's College

Allied Health and Nursing

Description

Despite years of research by health practitioners, much of the understanding and testing equipment has not been done on newer models of equipment. Since the development of assessing the body, and its composition; health professionals try to make their assessments as accurate as possible. These numbers have been so commonly accepted that most never stop to question their accuracy and validity. Most individuals don’t understand the processes that were used in making the equipment, therefore making it difficult to understand the devices and their assessments rationally. As a health professional, I personally have administered hundreds of body composition tests with a plethora of individuals from all body types. This lead to my hypothesis that one of the most commonly used devices on the market today (BIA $50.00 retail value) can be incredibly inaccurate because of how it’s used. The research done was performed on 66 individuals with the BIA, and 13 of these individuals were also measured using the BOD POD (Air Displacement

$50,000.00 retail value). Comparing the results has confirmed my hypothesis that the current method of administering the BIA should be modified to increase accuracy. Using the BIA, some individuals tested up to a 37% difference in fat mass simply by changing their way of holding the device. For many people, this difference easily stratifies them from healthy categories, to dangerous categories of body fat. This can play a destructive role in their lives, and not the helpful role that the assessment is intended for.