BIOLOGICAL INDEXES CONSIDERED IN THE DERIVATION OF THE BIOELECTRICAL-IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS

Although use of the bioelectrical impedance method for the indirect as sessment of human body composition is growing, awareness of the theore tical and practical bases of the method is limited. I discuss the rela tions between impedance variables and biological indexes, describe the biophysical models for the translation of impedance variables into in vivo body-composition indexes, and summarize the influences of physic al and biological factors that affect the validity of the bioelectrica l impedance method. The practical advantages of the bioelectrical impe dance method necessitate concerted research efforts to establish the m ost appropriate applications of the method in research and clinical me dicine.