A new approach for the estimation of body composition: infrared interactance.

A new method for the estimation of body composition in humans, called infrared interactance, is discussed. Infrared interactance is based on the principles of light absorption, reflection, and near-infrared spectroscopy. Body composition (percentage fat) was estimated in 53 adults (23 to 65 yr of age) by infrared interactance and compared to results from deuterium oxide dilution (r = 0.94), skinfold (r = 0.90), and ultrasound (r = 0.89) measurements. The method is safe, noninvasive, rapid, easy to use, and may prove useful to predict percentage body fat, especially in the obese.