Application of standards and models in body composition analysis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review presenting theoretical models without original empirical data or systematic search
PubMed 26541411 · doi:10.1017/S0029665115004206
What was done
This narrative review summarizes methodological standards and conceptual frameworks for in vivo body composition analysis (BCA). It examines conventional multi-component models (2-, 3-, and 4-compartment models, whole-body MRI, and CT) and describes theoretical extensions toward functional body composition (FBC) and healthy body composition (HBC) models.
What was found
The abstract reports no empirical data, sample sizes, or numerical results. It describes the 4-compartment model and whole-body MRI/CT as current reference standards, and details conceptual frameworks that use multi-level mathematical modeling to link structural tissue components with metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, and renal functions.
Why it matters
It outlines how body composition assessments can move beyond static descriptive metrics into integrative physiological phenotyping for clinical decision-making and biomedical research.
Limits
The paper is a narrative review offering theoretical and conceptual models rather than empirical trial results or a systematic meta-analysis; no quantitative comparative data are provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Lean body mass measurements in clinical and laboratory settings capture blood, connective tissue, and soft tissue rather than directly measuring muscle mass, with skeletal muscle representing approximately 50% of lean body mass.