Analysis of the body composition: a review of methods

Resumen

Several methods of analysis of body composition have appeared since the initial studies by Behnke cit. Clarys, Martin & Drinkwater (1984) with the objective of establishing indirect methods (in vivo) of determining BC. Today, double-indirect methods have been gaining great acceptance among health professionals due to ease of data collection and lower cost of the equipment. The objective of this study is to review body composition analysis techniques with emphasis on the criterion of scientific authenticity and to conclude which is the ideal method for body composition analysis. After performing the review, we concluded that no single ideal method exists, but that the ideal method is that which is capable of meeting our objectives at a given time with a given population.