Body Composition and Bioelectrical-Impedance-Analysis-Derived Raw Variables in Pole Dancers

Abstract

Few data are available on the body composition of pole dancers. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method that is used to estimate fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), while raw BIA variables, such as the impedance ratio (IR) and phase angle (PhA), are markers of body cell mass and the ratio between extracellular and total body water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the body composition of pole dancers compared to controls, in particular, those raw BIA variables that are considered as markers of muscle composition. Forty female pole dancers and 59 controls participated in the study. BIA was performed on the whole body and upper and lower limbs, separately, at 5, 50, 100 and 250 kHz. The FFM, FFM index, FM and body fat percentage (BF%) were predicted. The bioelectrical impedance indexes IR and PhA were also considered. Pole dancers exhibited higher FFMI and BI indexes and lower BF%. PhA was greater and IRs were smaller in pole dancers than in controls for the whole body and upper limbs. Considering the training level, FFM, whole-body IR and PhA were higher in the professionals than non-professionals. Raw BIA variables significantly differed between the pole dancers and controls, suggesting a higher BCM; furthermore, practicing pole dancing was associated with a greater FFM and lower FM.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis-Derived Phase Angle and Body Composition Are Predictors of Health-Related Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

“…Thus, our findings gave more detailed information on the determinants of HGS in children/adolescents with obesity, which were in partial disagreement with the previous suggestions of an inverse relationship with the %BF and WC [ 11 , 23 ]. Remarkably, in line with the evidence for the general pediatric population [ 7 , 25 , 31 ], the PhA came out as an independent predictor of HRF, suggesting that this raw BIA variable may be helpful in interpreting the variability of muscle strength and in giving more information on muscle function.…”

“…As for excess body fat, musculoskeletal strength and cardiorespiratory fitness are impaired in children/adolescents with obesity compared to their normal-weight counterparts [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], with reduced physical efficiency and physical activity, poorer scores in the physical and psychological domains of quality of life, and altered cardiometabolic parameters in later life [ 17 , 18 ]. Surprisingly, in the general pediatric population, there are limited studies focusing on the relationships between musculoskeletal strength/cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition (another component of HRF); for instance, muscle strength has been related to the FFM [ 7 , 8 ] and also to the BIA-derived PhA [ 7 , 25 ], which is thought to be a proxy index of the BCM and the ratio between the ECW and TBW. In children/adolescents with excess body fat, muscle strength has been directly associated with maturity status and the FFM [ 22 , 23 ], and it has been negatively associated with the %BF and abdominal obesity [ 11 , 23 ].…”

“…As an alternative, the phase angle (PhA), which is a directly measured raw BIA variable, is suggested to be a proxy index of BCM, the distribution between the extracellular water (ECW) and TBW, and cellular integrity [ 24 ]. The PhA increases progressively over the first two decades of life, markedly in teenagers (especially in the male sex), with no definite evidence regarding the effect of overweight/obesity both in youths and in adults [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. In addition, the PhA was found to be a good marker of the quality of appendicular muscle mass [ 27 ] and has been related to prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in critically ill, HIV-infected, and hospitalized pediatric patients [ 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Phase Angle and Impedance Ratio as Indicators of Physical Function and Fear of Falling in Older Adult Women: Cross-Sectional Analysis

“…This system has 3 main components: reactance (X c ), which measures the ability of cell membranes to store electrical charge (capacitance); resistance (R), which represents the resistive properties of cells due to intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) [ 19 ]; and impedance (Z), which represents the overall opposition to the electrical current [ 20 ]. Impedance provides another opportunity to examine cellular integrity with body cell mass [ 21 ]. Impedance ratio (IR) measures Z at high and low frequencies (in kHz) and can be indicative of possible cell membrane dysfunction based on body cell mass [ 22 ].…”

“…Impedance ratio (IR) measures Z at high and low frequencies (in kHz) and can be indicative of possible cell membrane dysfunction based on body cell mass [ 22 ]. The IR for the whole body, upper limbs, and lower limbs is commonly calculated at 250 kHz or 5 kHz [ 21 23 ]. At higher frequencies, Z can penetrate cell membranes, therefore allowing for total body water (ECW + ICW) to be measured; however, at lower frequencies, Z can only measure ECW [ 24 ].…”