Prediction of bone, lean and fat tissue mass using dual x-ray absorptiometry as the reference method

Physical activity and exercise training programmes confer considerable adaptation on the morphology of the human body affecting bone, lean tissue and fat. Training may induce specific development of muscle groups for certain sports affecting muscle mass (Spenst et al., 1993), while physical activity is known to influence the amount and distribution of overlying fat (Nindl et al., 1996). On the other hand, recent research has associated certain forms of exercise with an increase in bone mineral content and bone mineral density of the participants (ACSM, 1995).