Determination of body fluids by the impedance technique

For the purposes of determining body composition, the body can be viewed as the sum of two components, fat and fat-free mass, the latter including water, protein, and minerals. Current methods for determining the size of these various components of the body are either inexact, invasive, or dependent on expensive or slow instrumentation. Bioelectrical impedance, which is rapid, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive is examined as an alternative method for measuring body composition. The potential for the impedance technique arises from the very different electrical properties of the body components. The theory of bioelectrical impedance analysis is briefly presented, and human applications are discussed. The results of studies validating the method are cited.<>