Scribd
Upload
15 views3 pages

CHAPTER-IV

The document discusses body composition, emphasizing the importance of understanding body fat percentage and its implications for health. It outlines factors affecting body composition, methods for measuring body fat, and the distinction between body mass index (BMI) and body fat measurement. Additionally, it highlights the role of calories in energy intake and the necessity of moderation for maintaining health.

Uploaded by

loquehannah.01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views3 pages

CHAPTER-IV

The document discusses body composition, emphasizing the importance of understanding body fat percentage and its implications for health. It outlines factors affecting body composition, methods for measuring body fat, and the distinction between body mass index (BMI) and body fat measurement. Additionally, it highlights the role of calories in energy intake and the necessity of moderation for maintaining health.

Uploaded by

loquehannah.01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

PATHFIT 2

EXERCISE-BASED FITNESS ACTIVITIES

A LEARNING MATERIAL

Prepared by:

MARC KENNETH O. DRIJE, LPT


Faculty, College of Teacher Education
CHAPTER IV: BODY COMPOSITION AND BODY FAT PERCENTAGE
Body Composition

 Body composition is a combination of fat and tissues in your body. The body is made up of two kinds of
fat: body fat and storage body fat.
 Your body fat can be found in muscle tissue, under the skin or around the organ.
 Not all of the fats are bad for your body, such as essential body fat, which helps shield internal organs,
stocks fuel for energy, and controls important body hormones.
 Storage body fat, also known as lean tissue, includes bone, water, muscle, organ, and tissue. Lean
tissues are “metabolically active, burning calories for energy, while body fat is not.” (Scott, 2018)

Importance of Body Composition


Body composition is used in health and fitness to characterize the percentages of fat, bone, and muscle
in human bodies. The body fat percentage is of particular relevance because it can be quite useful in
determining health. Because muscle tissue is thicker than fat tissue, analyzing one’s body fat is vital to evaluate
one’s overall body composition, especially when making health recommendations. Because of differences in
body composition, two people of the same height and weight may have distinct health difficulties.

Factors Affecting Body Composition


The following factors can influence your body composition:
(1) age (humans lose muscle mass as they age);
(2) sex (women have more body fat than men);
(3) genes (play a role in whether you are biologically lean or have a tendency to gain fat); and
(4) hormones (can impact on water retention and body composition)

Body Fat Percentage


The Body Fat Percentage (BFP) is a body composition indicator that reflects how much bodyweight is
fat. The percentage of the body that is not fat is called lean mass. The Body Fat Percentage (BFP) can be
measured by computing the “total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by 100. (“Body Fat
Percentage – Wikipedia”, 2020)
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) provides these ranges of body fat percentage values for both men
and women:
Body Fat Percent Norms for Men and Women
Description Women Men
Essential Fat 10% to 13% 2% to 5%
Athletes 14% to 20% 6% to 13%
Fitness 21% to 24% 14% to 17%
Acceptable 25% to 31% 18% to 24%
Obese Over 32% Over 25%
(“Percent Body Fat Norms for Men and Women – ACE”, 2018)
Methods of Measuring Body Fat Percentage (BFP)
A number of methods for measuring body fat percentages are available, such as skinfold calculation,
bioelectric impedance, hydrostatic weighing, and DEXA scan. Skinfold measurement is both accurate and
practical for measuring body fat. Calipers are used to measure the thickness of skinfolds in millimeters in areas
where fat typically accumulates (i.e., abdomen, hip, arm, back, and thigh). Following the completion of the
measurements, the data is entered into an equation that calculates body fat percentage or body lean mass.
When measurements are obtained correctly, the skinfold test has a 3% margin of error in predicting body fat.
Skinfold is a preferred method of measuring body fat in non-clinical settings since it is simple to use, has
established accuracy, and is not intrusive to the patient.

Body Mass Index


Body mass index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person. The BMI is
defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of
kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms and height in meters. (“Body Mass Index – Wikipedia”, 2020) BMI is
sometimes misunderstood as a measured indicator of body fat. BMI is just a weight-to-height ratio. It is a
method for determining adult weight status and general health in big populations. BMI has a weak correlation
with body fat, but when combined with a body fat measurement, it provides a fairly accurate picture of your
current weight status. Having said that, having a BMI greater than 30 increases your chance of acquiring long-
term and disabling illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, gallstones, stroke, osteoarthritis, and several
types of cancer. BMI normally falls into one of the above categories in persons over the age of 20.

A Word About Calories


A calorie is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 °C, equal to
one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods (“Calorie – Oxford
Dictionary”, 2020). The amount of energy in the foods and beverages you eat and drink is measured by your
calorie intake. Calories are really not necessarily bad for you. You only have to take them in moderation. Your
body requires calorie-based sustenance. Consuming too many calories might lead to health issues and weight
gain if you do not burn enough calories through physical activity.

You might also like