App-based bioelectrical impedance analysis provides accurate body composition parameters in a more cost-efficient and time-efficient way.

Background: In clinical practice, there is an increasing demand for methods that provide accurate, precise, and real-time body composition measurements while reducing costs and data collection time.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of an app-based bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) system for determining body composition compared to a standard BIA method.

Methods: A total of 109 individuals with type 1 diabetes (56 men and 53 women), aged 18 to 70 years, with a BMI of 25.0-35.0 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin levels of 7.0-9.0%, were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to start with either the app-based BIA system or the standard method (A-Wave BIA Quantum-V) and then switched to the other method. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and metabolic profiles were also assessed.

Results: The comparison between the two methods showed a negligible difference in resistance but a significant difference in reactance (-4.9%). The degree of consistency was excellent for both resistance (ICC=0.990, p<0.001) and reactance (ICC=0.903, p<0.001), with individual differences falling within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, body composition parameters, including fat-free mass, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, total body water, and extracellular water, showed only minor and non-significant differences between the two methods.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the app-based BIA system is a valid and reliable tool for assessing body composition, offering healthcare professionals, including dietitians and nutritionists, a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to standard BIA methods.