Assessing body composition - practical

Question 1

What are the direct methods of assessing body composition?
What are 2 benefits to this method?
What are 2 limitations?

Answer 1

> Chemical dissolution
Dissection

Benefits: Accurate and exact, have led to indirect measurements
Limits: Impractical, expensive

Question 2

Give 4 indirect methods of assessing body comp

Answer 2

Out of:
> hydrostatic weighing
> Air displacement pod
> DEXA
> Body mass index
> Skinfold measurements
> Bodypart circumferences
> Bioelectrical impedance
> MRI

Question 3

What are the lab based indirect methods?

Answer 3

> Hydrostatic weighing
Air displacement pod
DEXA
MRI

Question 4

What are the field based methods?

Answer 4

> Skinfold
Bodypart circumferences
BMI
Bioelectrical impedance

Question 5

What are the pros and cons of labratory indirect methods?

Answer 5

Benifits:
Exact, accurate
Plentiful data
Trusted reputation

Limits: Expensive, require a trained professional, limited access

Question 6

What are 2 best skinfold sites?

Answer 6

> Triceps

> Subscapula

Question 7

What are the pros of BMI

Answer 7

> Simple and speedy calculation
Can assign a category
Good for population studies
Relationship between BMI and chronic disease

Question 8

What are the ideal waist size for males and females (inches)

Answer 8

Males - less than 37

Females - less than 32

Question 9

What are low waist to hip ratios for males and females?

Answer 9

Males - <0.71-0.76

depending on age

Question 10

What are the acceptable % body fat norms for males and females between age 18-34

Answer 10

Males - 13-21

<20 not recommended

Question 11

Bioelectrical impedance:

Increased resistance = ____ body fat

Answer 11

increased resistance = increased body fat

Question 12

What are the benefits and limitations of bioelectrical impediance

Answer 12

Benifits: Inexpensive, can be done anywhere, non-intrusive
Cons: Less reliable than other methods, affected by fluid levels, relies on assumptions about electrical current movement