[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 210 (Tuesday, November 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26975]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

Technology Assessment Conference on Bioelectrical Impedance 
Analysis in Body Composition Measurement

    Notice is hereby given of the NIH Technology Assessment Conference 
on ``Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Body Composition 
Measurement,'' which will be held December 12-14, 1994, in the Masur 
Auditorium of the National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on 
December 12 and 13 and at 9 a.m. on December 14.
    BIA has become a popular and widely used method to estimate body 
composition. A number of instruments have been manufactured for use in 
estimating body composition. The technology is relatively simple, 
quick, easy, and noninvasive. Similar to other methods of assessing 
body composition, BIA can be used to estimate body composition by 
making several assumptions regarding the composition of fat and fat-
free body mass.
    Consequently, modification of some of the assumptions and other 
small differences among the various instruments has led to the use of 
different equations in the derivation of the final estimate of body 
composition. The relationships among various components of the body 
such as fat mass and lean body mass are generally assumed to be static. 
However, the hydration status of the subject, room or skin temperature, 
age, gender, ethnic origin, level of physical fitness, and other 
individual characteristics may all contribute to differences in the 
observed measurements within BIA.
    Consequently, a Technology Assessment Conference on this 
methodology, its validity, and the appropriate interpretation of the 
data would be worthwhile.
    This conference will bring together experts from various 
perspectives with regard to this methodology. Presentations will 
highlight the necessary standardization of the methodology and provide 
the basis for the different equations that have been derived. 
Mechanical and physiological conditions that may influence BIA 
measurements will be discussed along with suggestions to minimize the 
variability. Various clinical characteristics influencing BIA 
measurements will also be presented. Finally, the indications and 
limitations for the use of this technology and the clinical assessment 
of individuals or populations will be discussed. Although this 
instrumentation has often been used to estimate the level of adiposity 
in the individual, it is beginning to find greater clinical use in the 
measurement of body cell mass and total body water in other clinical 
conditions.
    After 1\1/2\ days of presentations, audience discussion, and the 
opportunity for public and industry comment, an independent, non-
Federal panel will weigh the scientific evidence and write a draft 
statement that it will present to the audience on the third day. The 
statement will address the following key questions:
     What does BIA measure in terms of electrical and 
biological parameters?
     How should BIA be performed and how can BIA measurements 
be standardized?
     How safe and valid is the BIA technology in the estimation 
of levels of adiposity?
     How safe and valid is the use of BIA technology to 
estimate body cell mass and total body water status?
     What are the appropriate clinical uses of BIA technology 
and what are the limitations?
     What are the future directions for basic science, clinical 
research, and epidemiological evaluation of body composition 
measurement?
    Advance information on the conference program and conference 
registration materials may be obtained from: Laura Hazan, Technical 
Resources, Inc., 3202 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 
20852, (301) 770-3153.
    On the second day of the conference, time has been allocated for 5-
minute formal oral presentations by concerned individuals or 
organizations. Those individuals or groups wishing to send a 
representative to contribute during this session must contact Ms. Elsa 
Bray by 5 p.m. EST, November 28, 1994 at: Office of Medical 
Applications of Research, National Institutes of Health, Federal 
Building, Room 618, 7550 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-
9120, phone (301) 496-1144. If the number of requests received exceeds 
the slots available, presenters will be chosen by lot, and those 
selected will be notified by December 5, 1994.
    The primary sponsors for this conference are the National Institute 
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the NIH Office of 
Medical Applications of Research. The conference is cosponsored by the 
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the 
National Institute on Aging.
    The technology assessment statement will be submitted for 
publication in professional journals and other publications. In 
addition, the technology assessment statement will be available 
beginning December 14, 1994 from the NIH Consensus Program Information 
Service, P.O. Box 2577, Kensington, Maryland 20891, phone 1-800-NIH-
OMAR (1-800-644-6627).

    Dated: October 24, 1994.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Deputy Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 94-26975 Filed 10-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M