Body mass index versus bioelectrical impedance analysis for classifying physical function impairment in a racially diverse cohort of midlife women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Body composition strongly influences physical function in older adults. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) differentiates fat mass from skeletal muscle mass, and may be more useful than body mass index (BMI) for classifying women on their likelihood of physical function impairment.

Aims

This study tested whether BIA-derived estimates of percentage body fat (%BF) and height-normalized skeletal muscle mass (skeletal muscle mass index; SMI) enhance classification of physical function impairment relative to BMI.

Method

Black, White, Chinese, and Japanese midlife women (N = 1482) in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) completed performance-based measures of physical function. BMI (kg/m²) was calculated. %BF and SMI were derived th

SUBMITTER: Appelhans BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7125018 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature