Several different instruments available on the market have been used for the estimation of body fat. However, many of these instruments have not been compared with reference criteria to verify their true accuracy. This study aimed to verify the validity of a bioelectrical impedance scale (OMRON-514C) for the estimation of body fat. Forty-four overweight adolescents (25 females) participated in this study, with an average age of 12.3 ± 1.1 years. All were submitted to body fat evaluations by air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance. Higher values of relative and absolute body fat were estimated by bioelectrical impedance compared to plethysmography (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the relative body fat measurements between the two methods (r = 0.185; p = 0.228). The absolute measurements of body fat were correlated (r = 0.497, p = 0.001). Both in the measurements of relative (p= 0.034) and absolute body fat (p = 0.021), the bioelectrical impedance overestimated the measured values. Thus, in adolescents with characteristics similar to the present study, the estimate of body fat by the bioelectrical impedance (OMRON-514C) should be used with caution.Keywords: plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance, adolescents, overweight.
Design and evaluation of a new bioelectrical impedance sensor for micro-surgery: application to retinal vein cannulation
