Week 2 - Body Structure, Composition and Health

Question 1

What is anthropometry and what values does it include?

Answer 1

The study of body structure and composition
- Height, weight, body lengths, somatotypes, body composition, relationships to health and sport

Question 2

What does somatotypes refer to?

Answer 2

A person’s physique

Question 3

What are the three types of somatotypes to which people can be plotted on a somatochart?

Answer 3

1. Endomorph
2. Mesomorph
3. Ectomorph

Question 4

What are the characteristics of an endomorph?

Answer 4

• Rounded, stocky, lots of muscle and fat mass
• Shortest life span
• Prone to (CVD) and some postural problems (eg. leg deformities, knock knees, flat feet)
  (left of triangle)

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a mesomorph?

Answer 5

• Cope best with physical work
• Have least postural problems
• Athletic and muscular
  (top of triangle)

Question 6

What are the characteristics of an ectomorph?

Answer 6

• Longest living
• Long and lean
• Have most postural problems (vertebral column, rounded shoulders, kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis)

Question 7

Describe the differences between the 2-C Model and the Multi-C Model of body composition

Answer 7

2-C Model only take into account fat mass and fat free mass (FFM)

Multi-C model takes into account other body components such as OCF, ECF, protein and minerals

Question 8

Name indirect techniques commonly used to assess body composition (6)

Answer 8

1. Hydrostatic weighing
2. Skinfold thickness test
3. Girth measurements
4. Electrical impedance
5. Imaging techniques
6. Air densitometry

Question 9

What are the desirable, overweight and obese weight circumference measurements for females?

Answer 9

Desirable: <75
Overweight: 80-87.9
Obese: >80

Asian overweight: >80

Question 10

What are the desirable, overweight and obese weight circumference measurements for males?

Answer 10

Desirable <90
Overweight 94-101.9
Obese >102

Asian overweight >90

Question 11

What is the formula to calculate BMI?

Answer 11

BMI = weight/height² (kg/m²)

Question 12

What are the WHO BMI classifications for the general population?

Answer 12

Underweight: <18.5kg/m²
Ideal: 18.5-24.9kg/m²
Overweight: 25.0-29.9kg/m²
Obese: +30-34.9kg/m²

Question 13

What are limitations to BMI measurements?

Answer 13

BMI is a measurement of excess weight, rather than excess fat. For example, it does not take into account different muscle mass’. A bodybuilder may be considered ‘obese’ due to their height to weight ratio

Question 14

What happens when energy balance is neutral, positive, or negative, and how does it affect body composition and health?

Answer 14

• Neutral energy balance: BW is maintained
• +ve energy balance: BW (and usually adipose tissue (increases)
• -ve energy balance: BW decreases
• Failure to achieve energy balance contributes to changes in body composition and can lead to various disease states

Question 15

What are the three components of TDEE (total daily energy expenditure)?

Answer 15

1. Resting metabolic rate (Sleeping, basal & arousal metabolism ~ 60-75%)
2. Thermic effect of feeding & other influences (~10%, food intake; cold stress)
3. Thermic effect of physical activity (15-30%, occupation, sport & recreation)

Question 16

What is the difference between basal metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR)?

Answer 16

BMR is the minimal energy needed to maintain vital functions in the awake state and is measured under very specific standardised conditions

RMR is BMR + digestion

Question 17

What are the conditions of BMR measurement?

Answer 17

• After 12 hours fast and restful night’s sleep
• Awake for 30-60 minutes and resting
• No exercise since waking
• Environment: 25°C, sea level, 50% humidity

Question 18

What can influence a person’s RMR? (9)

Answer 18

• Thyroid hormones (higher levels increase RMR)
• Sex (M>F)
• Fat-free (lean) body mass (higher with more skeletal muscle)
• Protein turnover (higher with more protein turnover; growth, pregnancy and lactation)
• Age
• Climate
• Fever
• Nutritional status
• Health status

Question 19

What is obligatory themogenesis?

Answer 19

The energy required to maintain body temperature and for digesting, absorbing and assimilating food (diet-induced thermogenesis)

Question 20

What is facilitative thermogenesis?

Answer 20

• Thermic effects of activating sympathetic nervous system (eg. when cold)
• Heat from skeletal muscle activation or brown adipose tissue to maintain body temperature

Question 21

What are the 3 components of TDEE?

Answer 21

1. Occupational activity
2. Activities of daily living (ADL)
3. Sport and recreation (exercise)