Body composition of rural Beninese women in different seasons assessed by skinfold thickness and bioelectrical-impedance measurements and by a deuterium oxide dilution technique

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Abstract
Body composition of 24 rural Beninese women was assessed in a pre- and a postharvest season by using skinfold-thickness measurements, bioelectrical-impedance analysis (BIA), and deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution. Fat mass assessed by D2O dilution was 12.3 ± 3.3 kg; by skinfold-thickness measurements, 13.8 ± 3.3 kg; and by BIA, 14.1 ± 2.9 kg. Fat mass assessed by D2O was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than fat mass assessed by the other two methods. Body weight in the postharvest season was 0.8 ± 1.6 kg higher (P < 0.05) than during the preharvest season. All three methods demonstrated that there were no significant changes in fat mass but that fat-free mass increased significantly (P < 0.05) from pre- to postharvest season.