Mathematical models and their application in body composition research

Mathematical models are a means of formalizing the knowledge on living systems obtained in clinical physiology and theoretical biophysics. They allow the actual processes in living systems to be described and the mechanisms of these systems to be evaluated. The study of body composition strives to quantitatively evaluate intrinsic body compartments and to obtain important information on the nutritional and energy requirements of healthy persons and those with various pathologies. Although there has been great progress in the development of sophisticated instruments for body composition research, it is not always possible to directly measure certain body compartments (e. g. intracellular water and fat mass) because of either technical difficulties or for ethical reasons. Therefore, mathematical models, which can potentially estimate these compartments indirectly, may be a viable alternative. In this paper, we describe the various advances in the use of mathematical models for body composition research.