Body Composition Assessment: Theory into Practice: Introduction of Multicompartment Models

In this article, the most commonly used body composition methods for the assessment of whole-body and segmental-body compartments, including fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water, bone mineral content, protein mass, and body cell mass (BCM), were described. A basic description of each method including theoretical principles, applications, and limitations were provided, and a logistic framework for the application of body composition methods in research and clinical settings was proposed. This will facilitate the selection of most suitable and valid methods for the measurement of body compartments in a particular setting to provide a better understanding of the relationship between body composition, health, and metabolic risk.