Bioimpedance assessment of the Heath-Carter somatotype: updated formulas and software

Abstract

Introduction. In our recent publications, we have established the possibility of using bioimpedance measurements to assess the Heath-Carter somatotype in different age groups. We aimed to develop unified formulas for calculating the somatotype in children and adults, evaluate their accuracy based on age and body mass index, and improve the somatotyping protocol in bioimpedance analyzer software.

Materials and methods. Data from our previous studies on comprehensive anthropometry and related BIA measurements were considered. The main group consisted of ethnic Russians aged 7-59, who were examined in Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk Region, Elista, and Samara (N=4,296). The comparison group 1 included ethnic Russians aged 16-86 from the Krasnoyarsk Region (N=3,954). The comparison group 2 consisted of ethnic Kalmyks aged 8-25 from Elista (N=940). Using the data of the main group, bioimpedance predictive formulas for Endomorphy (ENDO_BIA) and Mesomorphy (MESO_BIA) ratings were obtained. We evaluated their accuracy in different subgroups of the main group and the comparison groups.

Results. The obtained formulas were as follows: ENDO_BIA = -3,411.8/R50 + 0.942´BMI – 0.00938´BMI² – 0.0235´Ht – 0.28´Sex + 0.034´Age – 2.69 (N=4,296; R²=0.84; SEE=0.76); MESO_BIA = 1,531.8/R50 + 0.302´BMI – 0.0529´Ht + 0.57´Sex – 0.032´Age + 4.52 (N=4,296; R²=0.87; SEE=0.48). These were relatively accurate for the age range 7-40 years for males and 7-59 years for females, but less accurate outside these age ranges or at high BMI values. Based on this, we also suggested formulas for obese people: ENDO_BIA = -2,569/R50 + 0.854´BMI – 0.0087´BMI² – 0.0263´Ht – 0.032´Sex + 0.018´Age – 1.60 (N=296; R²=0.69; SEE=0.87); MESO_BIA = 1,567/R50 + 0.55´BMI – 0.00512´BMI² – 0.0524´Ht + 0.42´Sex – 0.035´Age + 1.66 (N=296; R²=0.62; SEE=0.64). The formulas were integrated into the ABC-02 'Medas' (SRC Medas, Russia) BIA instrument software.

Conclusions. Our findings expand the possibilities for assessing the somatotype and studying its variability. Using uniform calculation formulas for children and adults will help improve comparability of estimates and validity of comparisons. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

References

Anisimova A.V., Godina E.Z., Rudnev S.G., Svistunova N.V. Validation of bioimpedance equations for the assessment of Heath-Carter somatotype in children and adolescents. Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 23: Antropologiya], 2016, 2, pp. 28–38. (In Russ.).

Bashkirov P.N. The doctrine of human physical development. Moscow, Moscow Univ. Publ., 1962. 340 p. (In Russ.).

Bogolyubov A.N., Chinenova V.N. Franz Reuleaux. 1829–1905. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 2014. 268 p. (In Russ.).

Bunak V.V. Anthropometry. Moscow, Uchpedgiz Publ., 1941. 368 p. (In Russ.).

Deryabin V.E. Somatology of men in the USSR in the mid-1970s. Moscow, Paralleli, 2009. 258 p. (In Russ.).

Kolesnikov V.A., Rudnev S.G., Nikolaev D.V., Anisimova A.V., Godina E.Z. On a new protocol of the Heath-Carter somatotype assessment using software for body composition bioimpedance analyzer. Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 23: Antropologiya], 2016, 4, pp. 4–13. (In Russ.).

Kretschmer E. Somatotype and Character (transl. from German). Moscow-Petrograd, State Publ. House, 1924. 288 p. (In Russ.).

Negasheva M.A. Anthropometry Basics. Moscow, Econ-Inform Publ., 2017. 216 p. (In Russ.).

Rudnev S.G., Anisimova A.V., Sindeyeva L.V., Zadorozhnaya L.V., Lukina S.S. et al. Methodological issues of studying variations in subcutaneous fat: a comparison of different types of skinfold calipers. Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 23: Antropologiya], 2017, 3, pp. 4–26. (In Russ.).

Semenov M.M., Vybornaya K.V., Radzhabkadiev R.M., Gapparova K.M., Sharafetdinov Kh.K. et al. Evaluation of the somatotype of patients with class 1, 2 and 3 obesity according to the Heath-Carter scheme using various formulas. Bulletin of Restorative Medicine, 2022, 21 (6), pp. 78–90. (In Russ.).

Sindeyeva L.V., Rudnev S.G. Characteristic of age and sex-related variability of the Heath-Carter somatotype in adults and possibility of its bioimpedance assessment (as exemplified by Russian population of Eastern Siberia). Morfologiia, 2017, 151 (1), pp. 77–87. (In Russ.).

Sipatrova A.G., Godina E.Z., Permiakova E.Yu., Anisimova A.V., Zubko A.V., Rudnev S.G. Bioimpedance assessment of body composition using ABC-01 ‘Medas’ and Diamant-AIST instruments: a comparison. Lomonosov Journal of Anthropology [Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin], 2023, 2, pp. 70–81. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2023.2.070-081.

Smirnov A.V., Kolesnikov V.A., Nikolaev D.V., Eryukova T.A. ABC-01 ‘Medas’: Analyzer for the Assessment of Body Fluids Balance with Software (User Manual). Moscow, NTTs Medas Publ., 2009. 38 p. (In Russ.).

Anisimova A.V., Godina E.Z., Nikolaev D.V., Rudnev S.G. Evaluation of the Heath-Carter somatotype revisited: new bioimpedance equations for children and adolescents. IFMBE Proceedings, vol. 54 (Eds. F. Simini, P. Bertemes-Filho). Springer, Singapore-Heidelberg, 2016, pp. 80-83. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-287-928-8_21.

Ballester A., Wright W., Valero J., Scott E., Delvin T. et al. Comparative analysis of anthropometric methods: past, present, and future. IEEE Standards Association Industry Connections Report, 2022. 52 p. Available at: https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/comparative-analysis-anthropometric-methods.pd... Accessed 15.08.2024.

Bennett J.P., Cataldi D., Liu Y.E., Kelly N.N., Quon B.K. et al. Variations in bioelectrical impedance devices impact raw measures comparisons and subsequent prediction of body composition using recommended estimation equations. Clin. Nutr. ESPEN, 2024, 63, pp. 540–550. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.07.009.

Bertuccioli A., Donati Zeppa S., Amatori S., Moricoli S., Fortunato R. et al. A new strategy for somatotype assessment using bioimpedance analysis in adults. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fit., 2022a, 62 (2), pp. 296–297. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12284-4.

Bertuccioli A., Sisti D., Amatori S., Perroni F., Rocchi M.B.L. et al. A new strategy for somatotype assessment using bioimpedance analysis: stratification according to sex. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol., 2022b, 7 (4), р. 86. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk7040086.

Bland J.M., Altman D.G. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet, 1986, 327 (8476), pp. 307–310. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(86)90837-8.

Campa F., Bongiovanni T., Matias C.N., Genovesi F., Trecroci A. et al. A new strategy to integrate Heath-Carter somatotype assessment with bioelectrical impedance analysis in elite soccer player. Sports (Basel), 2020a, 8 (11), р. 142. DOI: 10.3390/sports8110142.

Campa F., Matias C.N., Nikolaidis P.T., Lukaski H., Talluri J., Toselli S. Prediction of somatotype from bioimpedance analysis in elite youth soccer players. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020b, 17 (21), р. 8176. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218176.

Carter J.E.L. The Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype: instruction manual. 2002. Available at: https://phentermineclinics.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Heath-CarterManual.pdf. Accessed 15.08.2024.

Carter J.E.L., Heath B.H. Somatotyping: Development and Applications. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1990. 520 p.

Chumlea W.C., Guo S.S., Kuczmarski R.J., Flegal K.M., Johnson C.L. et al. Body composition estimates from NHANES III bioelectrical impedance data. Int. J. Obes., 2002, 26 (12), pp. 1596–1609. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802167.

Drywień M., Górnicki K., Górnicka M. Application of artificial neural network to somatotype determination. Appl. Sci., 2021, 11 (4), р. 1365. DOI: 10.3390/app11041365.

Gray D.S., Bray G.A., Bauer M., Kaplan K., Gemayel N. et al. Skinfold thickness measurements in obese subjects. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1990, 51 (4), pp. 571–577. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/51.4.571.

Heath B.H., Carter J.E.L. A modified somatotype method. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 1967, 27 (1), pp. 57–74. DOI:10.1002/ajpa.1330270108 (Русский перевод: Хит Б.Х., Картер Дж.Е.Л. Современные методы соматотипирования. Ч. 2. Модифицированный метод определения соматотипов // Вопросы антропологии. 1969. Вып. 33. С. 60–79.)

Heymsfield S.B., Bourgeois B., Ng B.K., Sommer M.J., Li X., Shepherd J.A. Digital anthropometry: a critical review. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 2018, 72 (5), pp. 680–687. DOI: 10.1038/s41430-018-0145-7.

Houtkooper L.B., Going S.B., Lohman T.G., Roche A.F., Van Loan M. Bioelectrical impedance estimation of fat‐free body mass in children and youth: a cross‐validation study. J. Appl. Physiol., 1992, 72 (1), pp. 366–373. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1992.72.1.366.

Kushner R.F., Schoeller D.A. Estimation of total body water by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1986, 44 (3), pp. 417–424. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/44.3.417.

Liu X., Li W., Wen Y., Xu G., Zhou G. et al. Obesity and Heath-Carter somatotyping of 3438 adults in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of China by multivariate analysis. Diabetes Metab. Syndr. Obes., 2021, 14, pp. 659–670. DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S287954.

Ng B.K., Hinton B.J., Fan B., Kanaya A.M., Shepherd J.A. Clinical anthropometrics and body composition from 3D whole-body surface scans. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 2016, 70 (11), pp. 1265–1270. DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.109.

Rajkumar R.V. Endomorphy dominance among non-athlete population in all the ranges of body mass index. Int. J. Physiother. Res., 2015, 3 (3), pp. 1068–1074. DOI: 10.16965/ijpr.2015.139.

Ramachandran A., Vertinsky P. Speaking back to Sheldon: Barbara Honeyman Heath as the new 'doyenne of somatotyping'. Cultural History, 2022, 11 (1), pp. 49–69. DOI: 10.3366/cult.2022.0254.

Rudnev S., Burns J.S., Williams P.L., Lee M.M., Korrick S.A. et al. Comparison of bioimpedance body composition in young adults in the Russian Children’s Study. Clin. Nutr. ESPEN, 2020, 35, pp. 153–161. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2019.10.007.

Rudnev S.G., Negasheva M.A., Godina E.Z. Assessment of the Heath-Carter somatotype in adults using bioelectrical impedance analysis. J. Phys.: Conf. Series, 2019, 1272, 012001. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1272/1/012001.

Sheldon W.H., Stevens S.S., Tucker W.B. The Varieties of Human Physique. Harper and Brothers, New York, 1940. 347 p.

Siders W., Rue M. Reuleaux triangle somatogram. Comput. Med Biol., 1992, 22 (5), pp. 363–368. DOI: 10.1016/0010-4825(92)90024-H.

Wells J.C.K. Three-dimensional (3-D) photonic scanning: a new approach to anthropometry. In: V.R. Preedy (Ed.) Handbook of Anthropometry: Physical Measures of Human Form in Health and Disease. N.Y., Springer, 2012, pp. 205–217.

Wong M.C., Bennett J., Garber A., Heymsfield S., Maskarinec G. et al. Monitoring body composition in pediatrics with 3D optical imaging: a pilot study. Curr. Dev. Nutr., 2024, 8 (Suppl. 2), 103588. DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103588.

World Health Organization. BMI-for-age (5-19 years). 2024a. Available at: https://www.who.int/tools/growth-reference-data-for-5to19-years/indicators/bmi-for-age Accessed 15.08.2024.

World Health Organization. The Global Health Observatory. Body Mass Index (BMI). 2024b. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/body-mass-index Accessed 15.08.2024.