# Comparison of Body Composition Methods for Estimating Body Fat Percentage in Lower Limb Prosthesis Users

## TL;DR

This study compares two methods for measuring body fat in people with lower limb prostheses and finds that both are valid.

## Contribution

This is the first study to compare body fat percentage using BOD POD® and DXA in lower limb prosthesis users.

## Key findings

- No significant differences in body fat percentage were found between BOD POD® and DXA with or without prostheses.
- Agreement between BOD POD® and DXA was greatest when prostheses were worn.
- BOD POD® provides valid body fat percentage measurements for this population.

## Abstract

There is a dearth of literature evaluating the accuracy of Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) compared to Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for assessing body composition in individuals with lower limb amputations. Validity of ADP in persons with lower limb amputations must be established.

The objective of this study was to compare body composition in persons with lower limb amputations using the BOD POD® and DXA.

Body composition was performed on eleven lower limb prosthesis users (age 53.2±14.3 years, weight 81.9±22.3kg) using ADP and DXA with and without prosthesis.

Repeated measures ANOVA indicated no significant difference in body composition among and between trials, F(3,8)= 3.36, p= 0.075. There were no significant differences in Body Fat (BF) percentage with and without prostheses on the BOD POD (28.5±15.7% and 33.7±12.1%, respectively) nor the DXA (32.9±10.6% and 32.0±9.9%, respectively). Association between the BOD POD and DXA were greatest when prostheses were not worn compared to when they were worn. Bland-Altman plots indicate agreement between BOD POD® and DXA was greatest while wearing the prosthesis.

This study is a first to compare total body fat percent between the BOD POD® and DXA in lower limb prosthesis users. BOD POD® report valid indices of BF%. Future work will utilize the BOD POD® in intervention studies for monitoring body composition changes across the continuum of rehabilitation.