Hydrostatic weighing without head submersion: description of a method

New Equations for Hydrostatic Weighing without Head Submersion

New equations were derived to predict the density of the body (DB) by hydrostatic weighing with the head above water (HWHAW). Hydrostatic weighing with the head below water (HWHBW) was the criterion for DB measurement in 90 subjects (44 M, 46 F). Head volume by immersion (HVIMM) was determined by subtracting the mass in water with the head below water (MWHBW) from the mass in water with the head above water (MWHAW), with subjects at residual lung volume. Equations were derived for head volume prediction (HVPRED) from head measurements and used to correct DB by HWHAW. Equations were also derived for HWHAW using direct regression of DB from uncorrected density (with MWHAW in place of MWHBW). Prediction equations were validated in 45 additional subjects (21 M, 24 F). Results were evaluated using equivalence testing, linear regression, Bland−Altman plots, and paired t-tests. Head girth, face girth, and body mass produced the smallest errors for HVPRED. In both M and F validation groups, equivalence (±2% fat by weight) was demonstrated between body fat percent (BF%) by HWHBW and BF% by HWHAW with HVPRED. Variance in computer-averaged samples of MWHAW was significantly less (p < 0.05) than MWHBW. Prediction error was smaller for BF% by HWHAW with HVPRED than for alternative methods. Conclusions: Equivalence between BF% by HWHBW and BF% by HWHAW with HVPRED was demonstrated and differences were not statistically significant. Weight fluctuations were smaller for HWHAW than HWHBW.

Assessment tools in obesity - psychological measures, diet, activity, and body composition

The global increase in the prevalence of obesity has led to an increased need for measurement tools for research, management and treatment of the obese person. The physical size limitations imposed by obesity, variations in body composition from that of normal weight, and a complex psychopathology all pose tremendous challenges to the assessment of an obese person. There is little published research regarding what tools can be used with confidence. This review is designed to provide researchers and clinicians with a guide to the current and emerging measurement tools specifically associated with obesity research and practice. Section 1 addresses psychological measures of well being. Sections 2, 3, and 4 focus on the assessment of food intake, activity, and body composition. All sections address basic challenges involved in the study and management of obesity, and highlight methodological issues associated with the use of common assessment tools. The best available methods for use in the obese both in research and clinical practice are recommended.

Estimation of body density based on hydrostatic weighing without head submersion in young Japanese adults

This study examined a method of predicting body density based on hydrostatic weighing without head submersion (HWwithoutHS). Donnelly and Sintek (1984) developed a method to predict body density based on hydrostatic weight without head submersion. This method predicts the difference (D) between HWwithoutHS and hydrostatic weight with head submersion (HWwithHS) from anthropometric variables (head length and head width), and then calculates body density using D as a correction factor. We developed several prediction equations to estimate D based on head anthropometry and differences between the sexes, and compared their prediction accuracy with Donnelly and Sintek's equation. Thirty-two males and 32 females aged 17-26 years participated in the study. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to obtain the prediction equations, and the systematic errors of their predictions were assessed by Bland-Altman plots. The best prediction equations obtained were: Males: D(g) = -164.12X1 - 125.81X2 - 111.03X3 + 100.66X4 + 6488.63, where X1 = head length (cm), X2 = head circumference (cm), X3 = head breadth (cm), X4 = head thickness (cm) (R = 0.858, R2 = 0.737, adjusted R2 = 0.687, standard error of the estimate = 224.1); Females: D(g) = -156.03X1 - 14.03X2 - 38.45X3 - 8.87X4 + 7852.45, where X1 = head circumference (cm), X2 = body mass (g), X3 = head length (cm), X4 = height (cm) (R = 0.913, R2 = 0.833, adjusted R2 = 0.808, standard error of the estimate = 137.7). The effective predictors in these prediction equations differed from those of Donnelly and Sintek's equation, and head circumference and head length were included in both equations. The prediction accuracy was improved by statistically selecting effective predictors. Since we did not assess cross-validity, the equations cannot be used to generalize to other populations, and further investigation is required.

Prediction equation for head volume of Japanese young adults

Accurate measurement of head volume is indispensable for precise assessments of body composition determined by hydrostatic weighing without head submersion. The purpose of this study was to establish a prediction equation for head volume measured by the immersion method from multiple regression analysis using head parameters (head circumference, head length, head breadth, neck girth and head thickness) as independent variables. The participants were 106 Japanese young adults (55 males and 51 females) aged 17-27 years. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for each head parameter and head volume in males and females were very high (ICC = 0.993-0.999, 0.992-0.998). Head circumference was closely related to head volume measured by the immersion method (r = 0.719, 0.861, P < 0.05), and was the most important parameter for the prediction equation in both sexes. Head breadth was related poorly (r = 0.475, 0.500, P < 0.05) and showed a small individual difference. It was, therefore, excluded from the independent variables. The prediction equation for males was predicted head volume = 122.10X1 + 106.19X3 + 37.16X4 - 89.46X5 - 4754.93, R = 0.909, SEE = 121.75 ml, and that for females was predicted head volume = 213.83X1 + 45.24X3 + 36.85X4 - 74.34X5 - 8912.43, R = 0.913, SEE = 136.26 ml (where X1 = head circumference, X3 = head length, X4 = neck girth, X5 = head thickness, and SEE = standard error of the estimate). The limits of agreement for predicted and measured head volume were -234.5 to 234.1 ml for males, and -261.0 to 261.0 ml for females. In cross-validation groups of both sexes, there were no significant differences between measured head volume and predicted head volume. The correlation coefficients between measured head volume and predicted head volume in males and females were 0.894 and 0.908, respectively. The predicted head volume from prediction equations was considered to have high reliability and validity.

Comparison of estimation accuracy of body density between different hydrostatics weighing methods without head submersion

This study compared the accuracy of body density (Db) estimation methods using hydrostatic weighing without complete head submersion (HW(withoutHS)) of Donnelly et al. (1988) and Donnelly and Sintek (1984) as referenced to Goldman and Buskirk's approach (1961). Donnelly et al.'s method estimates Db from a regression equation using HW(withoutHS), moreover, Donnelly and Sintek's method estimates it from HW(withoutHS) and head anthropometric variables. Fifteen Japanese males (173.8+/-4.5 cm, 63.6+/-5.4 kg, 21.2+/-2.8 years) and fifteen females (161.4+/-5.4 cm, 53.8+/-4.8 kg, 21.0+/-1.4 years) participated in this study. All the subjects were measured for head length, width and HWs under the two conditions of with and without head submersion. In order to examine the consistency of estimation values of Db, the correlation coefficients between the estimation values and the reference (Goldman and Buskirk, 1961) were calculated. The standard errors of estimation (SEE) were calculated by regression analysis using a reference value as a dependent variable and estimation values as independent variables. In addition, the systematic errors of two estimation methods were investigated by the Bland-Altman technique (Bland and Altman, 1986). In the estimation, Donnelly and Sintek's equation showed a high relationship with the reference (r=0.960, p<0.01), but had more differences from the reference compared with Donnelly et al.'s equation. Further studies are needed to develop new prediction equations for Japanese considering sex and individual differences in head anthropometry.

Bioelectric impedance and hydrostatic weighing with and without head submersion in persons who are morbidly obese

OBJECTIVE

To compare hydrostatic weighing with and without head submersion and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for measurement of body composition of persons who are morbidly obese.

DESIGN

Body composition was determined using 3 methods: hydrostatic weighing with and without head submersion and BIA. Residual volume for the hydrostatic weighing calculation was determined by body plethysmography.

SUBJECTS

Subjects were 16 morbidly obese men (142.5 kg mean body weight) and 30 morbidly obese women (125.9 kg mean body weight) living in the Salt Lake County, Utah, area. Morbid obesity was defined as 40 kg or more over ideal weight.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

One-way, repeated-measures analysis of variance was followed by Scheffé post hoc tests; body-fat measurement method served as the repeated variable and percentage of body fat as the dependent variable. Men and women were analyzed separately. In addition, degree of agreement between the 3 methods of determining body composition was determined. A regression equation was used to calculate body density for hydrostatic weighing without head submersion. Two new BIA regression equations were developed from the data of the 16 men and 30 women.

RESULTS

Values for percentage body fat from hydrostatic weighing with and without head submersion (41.8% vs 41.7%, respectively) were the same for men but differed for women (52.2% vs 49.4%, respectively, P < .0001). Values for body fat percentage measured by BIA were significantly lower for men (36.1%) and women (43.1%) (for both, P < .0001) compared with values from hydrostatic weighing methods. BIA underpredicted percentage body fat by a mean of 5.7% in men and 9.1% in women compared with the traditional hydrostatic weighing method.

APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS

BIA tended to underpredict the measurement of percentage body fat in male and female subjects who were morbidly obese. Hydrostatic weighing without head submersion provides an accurate, acceptable, and convenient alternative method for body composition assessment of the morbidly obese population in comparison with the traditional hydrostatic weighing method. In population screening or other settings where underwater weighing is impractical, population-specific BIA regression equations should be used because general BIA equations lead to consistent underprediction of percentage body fat compared with hydrostatic weighing.

Influence of differing macronutrient intakes on muscle glycogen resynthesis after resistance exercise

The provision of additional protein (Pro) to a carbohydrate (CHO) supplement resulted in an enhanced rate of muscle glycogen resynthesis after endurance exercise (Zawadzki et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 72: 1854-1859, 1992). A comparison of isoenergetic CHO and CHO/Pro formula drinks on muscle glycogen resynthesis has not been examined after either endurance or resistance exercise. We studied the effect of isoenergetic CHO (1 g/kg) and CHO/Pro/fat (66% CHO, 23% Pro, 11% fat) defined formula drinks and placebo (Pl) given immediately (t = 0 h) and 1 h (t = +1 h) after resistance exercise in 10 healthy young men. They performed a whole body workout (9 exercises/3 sets at 80% 1 repetition maximum) with unilateral knee extension exercise [exercise (Ex) and control (Con) leg]. The CHO/Pro/fat and CHO trials resulted in significantly greater (P < 0. 05) plasma insulin and glucose concentration compared with Pl. Muscle glycogen was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the Ex vs. Con leg immediately postexercise for all three conditions. The rate of glycogen resynthesis was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for both CHO/Pro/fat and CHO (23.0 +/- 4.5 and 19.3 +/- 6.1 mmol . kg dry muscle-1 . h-1, respectively) vs. Pl (Ex = 2.8 +/- 2.3 and Con = 1.4 +/- 3.6 mmol . kg dry muscle-1 . h-1). These results demonstrated that a bout of resistance exercise resulted in a significant decrease in muscle glycogen and that consumption of an isoenergetic CHO or CHO/Pro/fat formula drink resulted in similar rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis after resistance exercise. This suggests that total energy content and CHO content are important in the resynthesis of muscle glycogen.

Delayed onset muscle soreness: mechanisms and management

This review describes the phenomenon of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), concentrating upon the types of muscle contraction most likely to produce DOMS and the theories underlying the physiological mechanisms of DOMS. Ways of attempting to reduce the effects of DOMS are also summarized, including the application of physical and pharmacological therapies to reduce the effects of DOMS and training for reduction or prevention of DOMS.