Methods of estimating body fat and its distribution

Method	Cost	Ease of Use	Accuracy	Measures Regional Fat
Height and weight	$	Easy	High	No
Skin folds	$	Easy	Low	Yes
Circumferences	$	Easy	Moderate	Yes
Ultrasound	$$	Moderate	Moderate	Yes
Density
Immersion	$	Moderate	High	No
Plethysmograph	$$$	Difficult	High	No
Heavy water
Tritiated*	$$	Moderate	High	No
Deuterium oxide or heavy oxygen	$$$	Moderate	High	No
Potassium isotope (40K)	$$$$	Difficult	High	No
Total body electrical conductivity	$$$	Moderate	High	No
Bioelectric impedance (BIA)	$$	Easy	High	No
Absorptiometry (dual energy X-ray = DEXA; dual photon = DPA)	$$$	Easy	High	No
Computed tomography*	$$$$	Difficult	High	Yes
Magnetic resonance imaging	$$$$	Difficult	High	Yes

Estimating_body_fat.htm

* Radiation involved.

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