Body Composition Measurement Flashcards
What is the definition of FFM?
Fat-free mass (lean body mass) refers to all of your body components except fat. It includes your body’s water, bone, organs, and muscle content.
In weight management and body composition, FFM is primarily to muscle mass.
What is the main goal of body composition measurements in clinical practice
accomplished through the measurement of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass?
the main goal is for evaluation of nutritional status by measuring fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM)
What is a valid reason for measurement of FFM on a regular basis in clinical practice?
To help monitor changes in muscle mass, which is a key indicator of overall health and nutrition status.
What are other important body composition measurements in clinical practice
accomplished through the measurement of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass?
-measurement of tissue losses, by
analyzing distinctly the two major
body compartments: FFM and FM.
- its a non-invasive & easy-to-use
measurement able to
show the relationship between
mortality & FFM or fat mass
(FM) losses.
What is the association of FFM loss with decreased survival and negative clinical outcome that may increase health care costs (increased infection rate, increased length of hospital stay)?
FFM (Fat-Free Mass) loss: often associated with decreased survival and negative clinical outcomes in various populations.
This includes patients with chronic illnesses, critical illness, and aging.
FFM loss has been linked to a higher risk of infection, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs.
Follow up, what is a significant contributor to FFM loss? (This leads to increase healthcare costs due to patients requiring more resources over a longer period of time.)
Infection is a significant contributor to FFM loss: the body’s immune system weakens = more susceptible to infection.
= Longer hospital stays = needing additional tx or therapies to address the consequences of FFM loss.
=leads to increased healthcare costs, as the patient requires more resources, and resources are used over a longer period of time.
Does FFM loss have a significant impact on a patient’s health and well-being? Why is it important to monitor FFM loss?
Yes, as well as on the overall healthcare system.
Important to monitor and address FFM loss in patients in order to improve their outcomes and reduce the cost of healthcare.
Which bioelectrical impedence analysis between (BIA) is more sensitive than anthropometry (i.e. BMI, muscle arm circumference, skinfold thickness, and biological markers) to detect FFM loss in COPD?
BIA - more sensitive in detecting loss of fat-free mass (FFM). BIA measures the electrical impedance of body tissue, which provides a direct measurement of FFM.
-BIA - more accurate measurement of FFM as it differentiate between muscle mass and fat mass, while anthropometry is less able to make this distinction.
What does anthropometry rely on for measurement?
It relies on indirect indicators such as BMI, muscle arm circumference, skinfold thickness, & biological markers.
Which can be affected by other factors such as fluid balance & inflammation.
What is the association between BMI & FFM as assessed by BIA in healthy controls compared with patients at hospital admission?
Healthy controls: BMI + association with FFM assessed by BIA. (HIGHER BMI, HIGHER FFM = HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.
Patients:
FFM significant loss due to illness or injury = - association between BMI & FFM (via BIA).
FFM overestimation due to gained fluid weight = + association BMI + FFM.
-Relation of BMI & FFM via BIA are different.
-Pts are often sick or injured, which can impact:
-FFM levels
-Fluid balance
-Body composition
IN BOTH groups it is important to consider the unique health status and medical history of each patient when interpreting BIA results.
What is the values for fat density and the density for FFM?
Fat density: approx. 0.900 gm/cc
FFM density: approx 1.10 gm/cc
List methods for assessments of body composition (10)
a. Anthrometry (including skinfold measurements)
b. Hydrodensitometry
c. Measurement of mid-arm muscle circumference
d. In vivo neutron activation analysis
e. Anthropogammametry from total body potassium f. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
g. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
h. BIA
i. Computerized tomography (CT)
j. Ultrasound
What is the ANTHROPOMETRY method for the assessment of body composition?
ANTHROPOMETRY - VARIOUS BODY DIMENSIONS
involves measuring various body dimensions:
-skinfold thickness
-arm circumference
-waist circumference
others
This information is then used to estimate body fat and FFM.
What is the HYDRODENSITOMETRY (underwater weighing) method for the assessment of body composition?
HYDRODENSITOMETRY - BODY DENSITY
involves measuring body density by immersing the person in the water & measuring the volume of water displaced.
Body density can then be used to estimate body fat and FFM.
What is the ‘measurement of the mid-arm muscle circumference’ method for the assessment of body composition?
‘Measurement of the mid-arm muscle circumference’ - CIRCUMFERENCE
involves measuring the circumference of the arm at a specific location to estimate muscle mass.
