Table 1 Characteristics of techniques used for body composition analysis
From: Human body composition: yesterday, today, and tomorrow
Technique | Cost | Portability | Ease of use | Time involved | Patient convenience | Safety | Operator skills | Precision | Accuracy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Techniques little used today | ||||||||||
Under water weighing | Low High capital cost | None | Low to medium | Medium | Low | Medium to high | Low | High | High | |
Whole body 40K counting | Low High capital cost | None | Medium | Medium | Medium to high | High | Medium | High | High | |
Total body electrical conductivity | Low High capital cost | None | Medium | Medium | Medium to high | High | Medium | High | High | |
In vivo neutron activation analysis (INAA) | Low High capital cost | None | Medium | Medium | Medium to high | Low radiation hazard | Medium | High | High | |
Techniques in current use but not widely | ||||||||||
Infra-red | Low Low to medium capital cost | High | High | Very low | High | High | Low | High | Low | |
Ultrasound | Low Low to medium capital cost | High | High | Low | High | High | Low | Medium | Medium | |
EchoMRI | Low High capital cost | None | High | Low | Medium to high | High | Medium | High | High | |
Techniques in current use mainly for research | ||||||||||
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | Very high Very high capital cost | None | Medium | Medium to high | Medium | High | Very high | High | High | |
Computed tomography (CT) | Very high Very high capital cost | None | Medium | Medium to high | Medium | Low radiation hazard | Very high | High | High | |
3D photonic scanning | Low High capital cost | Medium | High | Low | High | High | Medium | High | Medium | |
Techniques in common use today for both research and clinical practice | ||||||||||
Anthropometry (including skin-folds, weight, height, girths) | Low | High | High | Medium | High | High | Low | Medium | Low to medium | |
Impedance | Low Low to medium capital cost | High | High | Very low | High | High | Low | High | Low to medium | |
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) | Low High capital cost | None to medium | High | Low | Medium to high | Medium Low radiation hazard | Medium | High | High | |
Tracer dilution (deuterium, NaBr, 18O) | Medium Analytical costs may be high | High | High | High | Medium to high | Medium to high | Low to medium (analytical laboratory skills required) | High | High | |
Air displacement densitometry (ADP) | Low High capital cost | Medium | High | Low | Medium | High | Low | High | High | |
Techniques in development | ||||||||||
2D smartphone scanning | Low | Very high | High | Low | High | High | Low | Medium | Medium | |
