{"id":155,"date":"2016-07-14T23:07:25","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T23:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroecc-hed110\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=155"},"modified":"2016-10-11T15:41:57","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T15:41:57","slug":"body-composition","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/chapter\/body-composition\/","title":{"raw":"Body Composition","rendered":"Body Composition"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Body Mass Index (BMI)<\/h2>\r\nBMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.\r\n\r\nAlthough BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>How is obesity measured?<\/h2>\r\nMeasuring the exact amount of a person\u2019s body fat is not easy. The most accurate measures are to weigh a person underwater or in a chamber that uses air displacement to measure body volume, or to use an X-ray test called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, also known as DEXA. These methods are not practical for the average person, and are done only in research centers with special equipment.\r\n\r\nThere are simpler methods to estimate body fat. One is to measure the thickness of the layer of fat just under the skin in several parts of the body. Another involves sending a harmless amount of electricity through a person\u2019s body. Results from these methods, however, can be inaccurate if done by an inexperienced person or on someone with extreme obesity.\r\n\r\nBecause measuring a person\u2019s body fat is difficult, health care professionals often rely on other means to diagnose obesity. Weight-for-height tables, used for decades, have a range of acceptable weights for a person of a given height. One problem with these tables is that there are many versions, all with different weight ranges. Another problem is that they do not distinguish between excess fat and muscle. According to the tables, a very muscular person may be classified obese when he or she is not. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is less likely to misidentify a person\u2019s appropriate weight-for-height range.\r\n<h2>Body Mass Index<\/h2>\r\nThe BMI is a tool used to assess overweight and obesity and monitor changes in body weight. Like the weight-for-height tables, BMI has its limitations because it does not measure body fat or muscle directly. It is calculated by dividing a person\u2019s weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplied by 703.\r\n\r\nMen and women can have the same BMI but different body fat percentages. As a rule, women usually have more body fat than men. A bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and low percentage of body fat may have the same BMI as a person who has more body fat. However, a BMI of 30 or higher usually indicates excess body fat.\r\n\r\nA BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Please review your findings with your health care provider if your BMI is outside of the normal range.\r\n<h2>Waist Circumference<\/h2>\r\nMeasuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you\u2019re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.\r\n\r\nThe table <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmi_dis.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference<\/a>\u00a0provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases or conditions.\r\n<h2>Body Fat Distribution<\/h2>\r\nHealth care professionals are concerned not only with how much fat a person has, but also where the fat is located on the body. Women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a \u201cpear\u201d shape. Men usually build up fat around their bellies, giving them more of an \u201capple\u201d shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, especially after menopause.\r\n\r\nExcess abdominal fat is an important, independent risk factor for disease. Research has shown that waist circumference is directly associated with abdominal fat and can be used in the assessment of the risks associated with obesity or overweight. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.\r\n\r\nWomen with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches may have more health risks than people with lower waist measurements because of their body fat distribution.\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Learning Activity<\/h3>\r\nThe <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmicalc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Calculator<\/a> is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk of obesity-related disease.\r\n\r\nUse the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmicalc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Calculator<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmi_tbl.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Tables<\/a> to estimate your body fat. The BMI score means the following:\r\n<table>\r\n<thead><\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">BMI Score<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Underweight<\/td>\r\n<td>Below 18.5<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Normal<\/td>\r\n<td>18.5\u201324.9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Overweight<\/td>\r\n<td>25.0\u201329.9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Obesity<\/td>\r\n<td>30.0 and Above<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"834966\"]Show Sources[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"834966\"]\r\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\r\n<strong>Body Mass Index (BMI):<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk<\/a>, NHIBI, NIH, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm<\/a>\r\n\r\n<strong>How is obesity measured?:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Understanding Adult Obesity<\/a>, WIN, NIDDK, NIH, <a href=\"http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm<\/a>\r\n\r\n[\/hidden-answer]","rendered":"<h2>Body Mass Index (BMI)<\/h2>\n<p>BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.<\/p>\n<p>Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.<\/li>\n<li>It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How is obesity measured?<\/h2>\n<p>Measuring the exact amount of a person\u2019s body fat is not easy. The most accurate measures are to weigh a person underwater or in a chamber that uses air displacement to measure body volume, or to use an X-ray test called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, also known as DEXA. These methods are not practical for the average person, and are done only in research centers with special equipment.<\/p>\n<p>There are simpler methods to estimate body fat. One is to measure the thickness of the layer of fat just under the skin in several parts of the body. Another involves sending a harmless amount of electricity through a person\u2019s body. Results from these methods, however, can be inaccurate if done by an inexperienced person or on someone with extreme obesity.<\/p>\n<p>Because measuring a person\u2019s body fat is difficult, health care professionals often rely on other means to diagnose obesity. Weight-for-height tables, used for decades, have a range of acceptable weights for a person of a given height. One problem with these tables is that there are many versions, all with different weight ranges. Another problem is that they do not distinguish between excess fat and muscle. According to the tables, a very muscular person may be classified obese when he or she is not. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is less likely to misidentify a person\u2019s appropriate weight-for-height range.<\/p>\n<h2>Body Mass Index<\/h2>\n<p>The BMI is a tool used to assess overweight and obesity and monitor changes in body weight. Like the weight-for-height tables, BMI has its limitations because it does not measure body fat or muscle directly. It is calculated by dividing a person\u2019s weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplied by 703.<\/p>\n<p>Men and women can have the same BMI but different body fat percentages. As a rule, women usually have more body fat than men. A bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and low percentage of body fat may have the same BMI as a person who has more body fat. However, a BMI of 30 or higher usually indicates excess body fat.<\/p>\n<p>A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Please review your findings with your health care provider if your BMI is outside of the normal range.<\/p>\n<h2>Waist Circumference<\/h2>\n<p>Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you\u2019re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.<\/p>\n<p>The table <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmi_dis.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference<\/a>\u00a0provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases or conditions.<\/p>\n<h2>Body Fat Distribution<\/h2>\n<p>Health care professionals are concerned not only with how much fat a person has, but also where the fat is located on the body. Women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving them a \u201cpear\u201d shape. Men usually build up fat around their bellies, giving them more of an \u201capple\u201d shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, especially after menopause.<\/p>\n<p>Excess abdominal fat is an important, independent risk factor for disease. Research has shown that waist circumference is directly associated with abdominal fat and can be used in the assessment of the risks associated with obesity or overweight. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.<\/p>\n<p>Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches may have more health risks than people with lower waist measurements because of their body fat distribution.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Learning Activity<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmicalc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Calculator<\/a> is an easy-to-use online tool to help you estimate body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk of obesity-related disease.<\/p>\n<p>Use the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmicalc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Calculator<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/educational\/lose_wt\/BMI\/bmi_tbl.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">BMI Tables<\/a> to estimate your body fat. The BMI score means the following:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">BMI Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Underweight<\/td>\n<td>Below 18.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Normal<\/td>\n<td>18.5\u201324.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overweight<\/td>\n<td>25.0\u201329.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Obesity<\/td>\n<td>30.0 and Above<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qa-wrapper\" style=\"display: block\"><span class=\"show-answer collapsed\" style=\"cursor: pointer\" data-target=\"q834966\">Show Sources<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"q834966\" class=\"hidden-answer\" style=\"display: none\">\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Body Mass Index (BMI):<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk<\/a>, NHIBI, NIH, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/public\/heart\/obesity\/lose_wt\/risk.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>How is obesity measured?:<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Understanding Adult Obesity<\/a>, WIN, NIDDK, NIH, <a href=\"http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/win.niddk.nih.gov\/publications\/understanding.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-155\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Contemporary Health Issues. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Judy Baker, Ph.D., Dean of Foothill Global Access at Foothill College. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: bakerjudy@foothill.edu. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hlth21fall2012.wikispaces.com\/\">http:\/\/hlth21fall2012.wikispaces.com\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":7,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Contemporary Health Issues\",\"author\":\"Judy Baker, Ph.D., Dean of Foothill Global Access at Foothill College\",\"organization\":\"bakerjudy@foothill.edu\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/hlth21fall2012.wikispaces.com\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-155","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":40,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/155\/revisions\/449"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/40"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/155\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=155"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=155"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-contemporaryhealth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}