Body Composition: BMI, Metabolic Rate & Fat Metabolism

Body composition analysis relies on BMI calculation, understanding BMR/RMR standards, and identifying the biochemistry behind fat metabolism and lipolysis.

Woman at a gym working out

Ideal Weight for Women Who Are Age 50

Fifty-year-old women have the same ideal body weights as younger -- and older -- women because ideal weights are based on a woman’s height and frame size, not age. Since metabolism tends to decrease with age, it may be more difficult for 50-year-old women to maintain desirable body weights.

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rear view of a young woman walking with her dog in a park

Walking vs. Running for Burning Fat

Burning fat can help showcase toned muscles and decrease your overall body size, making it a fitness goal for many people. Although all types of exercise offer benefits for your body and emotional health, walking and running are relatively simple compared to other sports.

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Mid section of a woman measuring waist in fitness studio

What Is a Dangerously Low BMI?

Your body mass index, or BMI, depends on your weight and height, and gives you a general idea of whether you're at risk for an obesity-related illness. The BMI helps doctors quickly screen for serious issues with body weight, such as being underweight or overweight.

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Aluminum pots on the kitchen top

Health Risks of Cooking in Aluminum

According to Health Canada, cooking a meal in an aluminum pan can add about 1 to 2 mg aluminum to your food. The World Health Organization estimates that people can safely consume about 50 mg a day without harm, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not set an upper intake limit.

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Close up of older person holding pills

Can Any Supplements Slow Down Metabolism?

If you're naturally thin, chances are you have a high metabolism. And while your metabolism makes it easy to avoid packing on excess pounds, it can actually get in the way of your results if you're trying to gain weight.

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Man in gym on machine exercising

How to Shed Body Fat After Bulking Up

You’ve put on some extra muscle, but while building muscle mass, you’ve also gained excess body fat. Reducing your body fat percentage will help increase muscle definition, making your body appear lean and chiseled.

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Unhappy Caucasian woman standing on weight scale

Why Do I Gain Weight so Easily?

Losing weight is a difficult and long process for most people, but if your clothes feel a little tight when you even look at a cheeseburger combo, it can feel especially discouraging. Gaining weight easily might mean you have a slower-than-average metabolism, you need to readjust your perception of calories eaten vs.

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Senior woman jogging

What Happens to a Women's Body at 40?

Anti-aging websites promise that drinking grape juice every day will take six years off your age and that deep breathing can make your skin look years younger. And they may be right. But sooner or later the inevitable changes to your body will occur.

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How to Lower Body PH Naturally

Your body’s pH levels can be lowered naturally if you are experiencing abnormal alkalinity, which can lead to sickness and physical discomfort. According to Dr.

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Litmus paper and beaker

The Overall pH of Body Fluid

Fluids in the human body function to provide digestion, lubrication, nutrient and oxygen transportation, and protection. To perform these functions, the acid levels must be varied to match the bodily function.

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The Best Workout for Obese People

Exercise will help you lose weight and reduce body fat. However, you may find certain exercises challenging if you're obese. Obese people carry extra weight around their midsections -- this makes certain movements impossible or uncomfortable.

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Daily weight

What Should I Weigh for My Age & Height?

You might aspire to have chiseled abs or perfect glutes, but staying fit and maintaining a healthy weight will benefit your health, too. Being overweight can increase your risk of chronic diseases, including some types of cancer, while being underweight can affect your hormone balance and immune function.

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Does Your Metabolism Speed Up During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy your body is changing in ways you may have never imagined it could change. One of these changes is an increase in your metabolic rate. During pregnancy, you and your growing baby are relying on the nutrients that you consume for health and energy.

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spoon fork and knife on empty white plate

Does Not Eating Slow Your Metabolism?

To lose weight you need to eat less, so skipping meals or eating little or nothing for a day may seem like a good idea. But not eating intensifies your hunger, and regularly eating too little or skipping meals can slow your metabolism.

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Young woman on bathroom scales, low section

How Does a Scale Measure Body Fat?

While you can hardly turn on the television or open a magazine without reading about the dangers of obesity, your body fat percentage -- the amount of your weight that comes from fat vs. lean mass -- is actually a better look at your disease risk.

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Doctor Weighing Patient

Normal Weight and Height for a Male

Defining "normal" in a man's height and weight is not easy; age, body composition and physical type all affect what's normal. "Normal" can sometimes mean "average,"

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Woman at gym warming up with leg stretches

How to Calculate BMI for Athletes

Body mass index measures if you have a healthy level of fatness using an equation that involves the relationship of your height to your weight. Although body mass index, or BMI, is a good measure for much of the population, it's not infallible.

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Stethoscope and calculator

Ways to Calculate BMI

When you go for a checkup, your doctor may measure your height and weight to determine your BMI -- or body mass index. This gives him an idea of your body's level of fatness and whether you're at a healthy size.

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Beautiful woman exercising pilates

The Average Lean Body Mass

The more lean body mass you have, the higher your metabolism is likely to be. Having a healthy percentage of lean body mass may make you less likely to become sick or to develop health problems such as heart disease or diabetes.

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The Fastest Way to Lose Body Fat Without Exercise

Losing extra pounds is important to decreasing risk for disease, such as cancer, gallbladder disease and coronary heart disease, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you need to lose weight quickly and can’t exercise, it’s possible with healthy lifestyle changes.

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