Revista espanola de salud publica
Validity of the use of bioimpedance in the assessment of body composition in children and adolescents: a systematic review
By Martín Saborido C, García Carpintero EE, Pedrosa Pérez L and 4 others.
Abstract
Objective
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a non-invasive technique that estimates different body compartments, including fat mass, fat-free mass and total body water, and may complement traditional anthropometric measures. This review aimed to summarise the available evidence on the validity of BIA for assessing body composition in children and adolescents and to identify factors influencing its performance.
Methods
A systematic review of diagnostic methods was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched in February 2025 for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Validation studies in participants younger than eighteen years comparing BIA with reference methods, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), isotope dilution, air-displacement plethysmography or multicomponent models, were included. Two reviewers independently screened records and full texts and extracted relevant information. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2, and findings were narratively synthesised.