Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

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Higgins, P.B. et al.

Effect of scalp and facial hair on air displacement plethysmography estimates of percentage of body fat.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of body hair (scalp and facial) on air displacement plethysmography ( BOD POD) estimates of percentage of body fat. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A total of 25 men (31.4 +/- 8.0 years, 83.4 +/- 12.2 kg, 181.8 +/- 6.9 cm) agreed to grow a beard for 3 weeks to participate in the study. Total body density (g/cm(3)) and percentage of body fat were evaluated by BOD POD. To observe the effect of trapped isothermal air in body hair, BOD POD measures were performed in four conditions: criterion method (the beard was shaven and a swimcap was worn), facial hair and swimcap, facial hair and no swimcap, and no facial hair and no swimcap(.) RESULTS: The presence of only a beard (facial hair and swimcap) resulted in a significant underestimation of percentage of body fat (16.2%, 1.0618 g/cm(3)) vs. the criterion method (17.1%, 1.0597 g/cm(3), p < 0.001). The effect of scalp hair (no swim cap worn) resulted in a significant underestimation in percentage of body fat relative to the criterion method, either with facial hair (facial hair and no swimcap; 14.8%, 1.0649 g/cm(3)) or without facial hair (no facial hair and no swimcap; 14.8%, 1.0650 g/cm(3), p < 0.001 for both). DISCUSSION: A significant underestimation of percentage of body fat was observed with the presence of facial hair ( approximately 1%) and scalp hair ( approximately 2.3%). This underestimation in percentage of body fat may be caused by the effect of trapped isothermal air in body hair on body-volume estimates. Thus, excess facial hair should be kept to a minimum and a swimcap should be worn at all times to ensure accurate estimates of body fat when using the BOD POD.[1]

References

Effect of scalp and facial hair on air displacement plethysmography estimates of percentage of body fat. Higgins, P.B., Fields, D.A., Hunter, G.R., Gower, B.A. Obes. Res. (2001) [Pubmed]

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