Density of fat-free body mass: relationship with race, age, and level of body fatness

The American Journal of Physiology
M VisserS B Heymsfield

Abstract

The two-compartment body composition method assumes that fat-free body mass (FFM) has a density of 1.100 kg/l. This study tested the hypothesis that FFM density is independent of race, age, and body fatness. Subjects were 703 black and white subjects, ages 20-94 yr, with body mass index (BMI) 17-35 kg/m2. Body composition was assessed using a four-compartment model based on tritium dilution volume, body density by underwater weighing, bone mineral by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and body weight. No relationship was observed between FFM density and race or BMI. A tendency was observed for a lower FFM density only in older white women. The difference in percent body fat (delta fat) between the four-compartment model and underwater weighing was < 2% for all groups. Race, age, and BMI explained only 2.3 (women) and 1.4% (men) of the variance in delta fat, whereas the total body water fraction of FFM explained 77%. In contrast to current thinking, these results show that the assumption of constant FFM density is valid in black, elderly, and obese subjects.

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Citations

Sep 5, 2001·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Sigurbjörn Á. ArngrímssonKirk J. Cureton
Aug 18, 2001·Journal of Applied Physiology·M L Millard-StaffordL B Rosskopf
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Oct 20, 2001·Journal of Applied Physiology·E M EvansK J Cureton
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Jun 23, 2006·Physics in Medicine and Biology·Sören Mattsson, Brian J Thomas
Apr 3, 2020·European Journal of Applied Physiology·Hiroyuki SagayamaHideyuki Takahashi
Jan 18, 2003·American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism·Zimian WangSteven B Heymsfield
Nov 16, 2005·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·Ellen M EvansSigurbjörn A Arngrímsson
Jul 10, 2019·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Desirée Gutiérrez-MarínJonathan C K Wells
Mar 9, 2021·Advances in Nutrition·Malia N M BlueAbbie E Smith-Ryan
Apr 4, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Damian WiśniewskiKrzysztof Durkalec-Michalski
Jun 9, 2021·Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·Steven B HeymsfieldJohn Shepherd

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