Comprehensive Body Composition Assessment

At follow-up, participants’ weight (kg), fat mass (FM, kg), percentage of total body body fat (%FM), muscle mass (MM, kg), and percentage of total body muscle mass (%MM) were estimated via the bioelectrical impedance body composition analyzer TANITA MC-780MA (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) [19 (link)]. The latter consists of a stand-alone unit where age, gender, and height of participants are inputted by the operator. During the impedance measurement, participants wear light clothing and must step onto a special platform with bare feet and take the handles with both hands alongside the body. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/height² (m). Waist and hip circumferences (cm) measures were collected by trained operators according to a standard international protocol.