Research
Mixed
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the preferred criterion measure for body composition assessment because it provides a multi-compartment model including bone mineral content, offering higher accuracy than two-compartment methods.
If you have access to DXA, use it for the most accurate baseline of bone, fat, and muscle. However, recognize that other methods like BIA or skinfolds are valid for tracking changes over time if DXA is not accessible.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is currently the preferred criterion measure and has the advantage of quantifying bone mineral content in addition to FM and FFM, making this a three-compartment, or multi-compartment, model.
Why this rating
Stated as the 'preferred criterion measure' and 'gold-standard' alternative in the review.
Source
The Utility of Body Composition Assessment in Nutrition and Clinical Practice: An Overview of Current Methodology
Clifton J. Holmes et al. · Nutrients · 2021
DOI 10.3390/nu13082493
narrative_reviewCited 363×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early mortality, while sarcopenia (low muscle mass) increases the risk of injury, disability, and mortality, making the assessment of both fat and lean mass critical for risk stratification.Strong
- Body composition assessment (quantifying fat mass and fat-free mass) is clinically superior to BMI for diagnosing and managing obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis because BMI fails to distinguish between tissue compartments.Good
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