Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Skınfold Measurement Values in Determining Body Composıtıon in Elite Female Footballers

Abstract

This study aimed to compare body fat percentage (BF%) estimates obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and a 7-site skinfold method in elite female football players and to examine the relationship and agreement between the two methods. Twenty elite female athletes (16–40 years) living in Istanbul participated in the study. Measurements were performed at two time points (pre–post). BIA was used to assess body mass, skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, and total body water. Skinfold thickness was measured at seven sites (triceps, subscapular, chest, midaxillary, abdominal, suprailiac, thigh), and BF% was calculated accordingly. Normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Paired-samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied as appropriate. Associations were examined using Pearson correlation, and agreement was evaluated with Bland–Altman analysis (p<0.05). Body mass did not change significantly (p=0.732). Skeletal muscle mass increased significantly (Δ=0.595 kg; p=0.001), while fat mass (p=0.010) and BIA-derived BF% (Δ=-0.771; p=0.001) decreased significantly. Significant reductions were observed in subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac, and midaxillary skinfold sites (p≤0.002). Strong positive correlations were found between BIA and skinfold BF% at both pre (r=0.870; p=0.001) and post (r=0.871; p=0.001) assessments; however, changes in BF% were not significantly correlated (p=0.101). Bland–Altman analysis revealed negative bias values (pre: -2.15; post: -2.32), indicating that BIA systematically underestimated BF% compared with the 7-site skinfold method. These findings suggest that although the methods show strong association at single time points, they demonstrate limited agreement at the individual level.

Keywords

• Female Football
• Body Composition
• Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
• Skinfold

Ethical Statement

I declare that this research is my own work, that I have not engaged in any unethical behavior at any stage from planning to writing, that I obtained all the information in this research within academic and ethical guidelines, that I have cited all sources for all information and interpretations, and that these sources have been included in the list of references.

Elit Kadın Futbolcularda Vücut Kompozisyonu Belirlenmesinde Biyoelektrik Empedans Analizi ve Skinfold Ölçümü Değerlerinin Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Bu çalışma, elit kadın futbolcularda vücut kompozisyonunun belirlenmesinde biyoelektrik empedans analizi (BIA) ile 7 bölge deri kıvrım kalınlığı (skinfold) yöntemlerinden elde edilen vücut yağ oranı (VYO) değerlerini karşılaştırmak ve yöntemler arası ilişki ile uyumu incelemek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. İstanbul’da yaşayan, 16–40 yaş aralığında, aktif olarak elit düzeyde futbol oynayan 20 kadın sporcu çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Aynı bireylerde iki zaman noktasında (ilk–son) BIA ile kilo, iskelet kas ağırlığı, vücut yağ ağırlığı, vücut yağ oranı (%) ve toplam vücut suyu ölçülmüş; skinfold ölçümleri triceps, subskapular, chest, midaxillary, abdominal, suprailiac ve thigh bölgelerinden alınarak 7 bölge verisinden VYO (%) hesaplanmıştır. Normallik Shapiro–Wilk testi ile değerlendirilmiş; uygun değişkenlerde eşleştirilmiş t-testi, uygun olmayanlarda Wilcoxon işaretli sıralar testi kullanılmıştır. Yöntemler arası ilişki Pearson korelasyonu, uyum ise Bland–Altman analizi ile incelenmiştir (p<0,05). Kilo değişimi anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p=0,732). İskelet kas ağırlığı anlamlı artmış (Δ=0,595 kg; p=0,001), vücut yağ ağırlığı (p=0,010) ve BIA’ya göre VYO (Δ=-0,771; p=0,001) anlamlı azalmıştır. Subskapular, abdominal, suprailiac ve midaxillary skinfold ölçümlerinde anlamlı düşüş saptanmıştır (p≤0,002). BIA ve 7 bölge skinfold VYO arasında ilk (r=0,870; p=0,001) ve son ölçümde (r=0,871; p=0,001) güçlü pozitif korelasyon bulunmuştur; ancak değişim skorları arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır (p=0,101). Bland–Altman analizinde bias değerleri negatif olup (ilk: -2,15; son: -2,32), BIA’nın skinfold yöntemine göre VYO’yu ortalama daha düşük tahmin ettiği görülmüştür. Bulgular, iki yöntemin aynı zaman noktasında benzer sıralama gösterebildiğini ancak bireysel düzeyde tam uyum sergilemediğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Kadın Futbolu
• Vücut Kompozisyonu
• Biyoelektrik Empedans Analizi
• Skinfold

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırmanın kendi çalışmam olduğunu, planlanmasından yazımına kadar bütün safhalarda etik dışı davranışımın olmadığını, bu araştırmadaki bütün bilgileri akademik ve etik kurallar içinde elde ettiğimi, bütün bilgi ve yorumlara kaynak gösterdiğimi ve bu kaynakları da kaynaklar listesine aldığımı beyan ederim.

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