Body composition analysis relies on BMI calculation, understanding BMR/RMR standards, and identifying the biochemistry behind fat metabolism and lipolysis.
Carrying too much body fat increases your risk of disease, particularly heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Body fat scales, caliper tests and medical scans tell you the percentage of fat you have on your body.
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Body fat measurements give you a better understanding of the health of your body compared to the scale. Instead of only knowing your gross weight -- which includes bones, fluid, organs and connective tissue -- your body composition measurement tells you how much of that weight is made up of fat.
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Your metabolism consists of the energy you use to exist, perform daily functions, exercise and digest food. Basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate are two different measures that tell you how many calories you burn without any extra daily activity -- as if you were lying in bed all day. You may see the terms "
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People of the same height can post different weights on the scale and still be perfectly healthy. Men tend to weigh more than women of the same height because they naturally have a greater amount of muscle mass, which weighs more per square inch than fat tissue.
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Protein, along with carbohydrates and fat, is a major macronutrient that helps your body function optimally. You need it to build strong tissues, support immunity and boost your metabolism.
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If you only use the scale, you may not truly know if you're at a healthy weight. The scale can't tell you the type of tissue it's weighing. Having too much fat -- even if you're thin or carry a normal weight in pounds -- will endanger your health.
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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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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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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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Exactly how much you weigh is a matter of genetics and your body composition. Instead of aiming for a particular number on the scale, make feeling fit and fabulous your goal. Your body type influences how your weight distributes, what exercises best suit you and what you should eat to fuel activity.
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Your strength-to-weight ratio is simply your strength divided by your body weight. The ideal ratio depends on your gender and what lift you're performing. Competitive athletes' goals for the strength-to-weight ratio differ from those for the average gym-goer.
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Body mass index is the ratio of your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. BMI provides an estimation of your body fat level, but is in no way diagnostic. It helps healthcare providers evaluate whether you may be at risk of chronic disease due to carrying excess fat.
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Losing weight requires you to eat fewer calories than you burn, so it seems logical that eating no calories would lead to the quickest loss. Fasting, however, does not speed up your metabolism -- and may actually backfire by slowing down your metabolic processes to compromise your ability to successfully drop pounds.
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When you can't determine the height of a patient, upper arm circumference can help calculate his body mass index. Body mass index, or BMI, gives a caregiver an estimation of a patient's body fat level.
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Many medical providers use body mass index, or BMI, to assess your weight and health risk. BMI is a calculation of a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters. A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or above is obese.
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Fatigue and your weight are tightly intertwined. Being overweight means you have to work harder to do simple physical tasks, such as climbing the stairs and walking from the bus stop. A large body size may also interfere with nightly sleep as it increases the chances that you suffer from sleep apnea.
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It's a well-established "rule" that frequent meals boost your metabolism and prompt weight loss, but research doesn't necessarily back this rule up. While this eating pattern helps some people, it isn't absolutely necessary for healthy weight management.
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You may wear a small size and look slender to your friends, but underneath those petite clothes, you're lacking muscle and holding a large amount of fat. The condition, colloquially known as "skinny fat," or, in medical literature, as "normal weight obesity," can have serious health implications.
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Most female athletes carry between 8 and 15 percent fat, but swimmers usually have a bit more -- between 14 and 24 percent. While any body fat percentage below 30 is perfectly healthy for a woman, it's expected that competitive athletes be among the leanest and sleekest people around.
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Body composition is a better measure of your body's health than weight alone. You may be a normal weight for your height but carrying too many of those pounds in the form of fat, and having too much fat puts you at risk for chronic disease.
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