Body Composition Flashcards
Overweight
a person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9, or is 25-30lbs over recommended weight for height.
Obesity
a person with a BMI of 30 or greater, or is at least 30lbs over recommended weight for height.
Skin -fold measurements—
uses caliper to measure subcutaneous fat.
4 sites:
biceps (vertical fold), triceps (vertical fold), subscapular (45° fold), iliac crest (45° fold). All on
the right side of the body.
Durnin-Wormsely formula
—add total of measurements and compare to the solutions table in the
textbook to determine body fat percentage.
Fat mass =
body fat % × scale weight.
Lean body mass =
scale weight – fat mass.
Bioelectrical impedance
—conducts electrical current through the body to estimate fat content
Underwater weighing
used in exercise physiology labs; lean mass sinks, fat mass floats; dry weight compared to underwater weight.
Circumference measurements
—assess girth changes in the body; not accurate estimate of fatness.
Measure at the neck, chest, waist, hips, calves, and biceps.
Waist-to-hip ratio—
divide the waist circumference measurement by the hip measurement.
• Ratios greater than 0.80 for women and 0.95 for men increases risk for a number of diseases.
Body mass index (BMI)
—a person’s weight compared to his/her height.
• Not designed to assess body fat.
• Risk of chronic disease increases with a BMI of 25 or greater.
