# BODY COMPOSITION METHOD FOR THE ELDERLY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO · 1991 · $96,372

## Abstract

The purpose of the proposed study is to address the distinct need in
epidemiologic studies for noninvasive, simple, but reliable methods for
estimating body composition and patterning in elderly persons 65+ years of
age. The term "body composition" refers to total body fat (TBF), the
percent of weight that is fat (%BF), fat-free mass (FFM), total body water
(TBW), and extra-cellular fluid (ECF). "Fat patterning" (FP) refers to the
anatomical distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Significant changes
in body composition and fat patterning that have important health related
effects occur with aging and knowledge of these changes is important for
diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment of the elderly. There are few data,
however, for body composition and fat patterning in the elderly because
traditional methods have been difficult to apply for technical, conceptual
or cost reasons. The proposed study will focus on the refinement of
recumbent anthropometry, bioelectric impedance, and B-mode imaging
ultrasound methods for estimating body composition and fat pattering that
would be appropriate for epidemiologic studies. The underlying hypothesis
of the study is that a combination of these methods can be used to estimate
body composition and index fat patterning in the elderly in novel ways that
circumvent factors, such as reduced mobility, that limit the application of
conventional anthropometric and/or bioelectric impedance approaches. The
first phase of the proposed research will involve the development and
validation of methods for predicting body composition and fat pattern for a
cross-sectional sample of 400 ambulatory, elderly men and women. The second
phase will consist of the cross-validation of these methods using data from
two independent samples.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120174
- **Project number:** 5R01AG008510-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F6XLTRUQJEN4
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD N. BAUMGARTNER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $96,372
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-01-15 → 1995-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120174

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120174, BODY COMPOSITION METHOD FOR THE ELDERLY (5R01AG008510-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120174. Licensed CC0.

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