However, this approach is expensive and requires very specialized equipment and training. Hydrostatic Weighing: Hydrostatic weighing, also known as underwater weighing, is one of the more accurate forms of body composition assessment with error rates being between 2-5% for most apparatuses.Interestingly, waist to weight ratio appears to be the most accurate (Dong et al., 2018). There are good data to show how well different measures correlate to body fat percentages. More specifically things such as waist-to-hip ratios, waist-to-height ratios, and neck circumferences are ways to estimate body composition. Body Circumference: Another very accessible and easy to perform method of estimating body composition is through measuring body circumference.As such, it is difficult to be certain of changes of <5% of body fat. While easy to perform, this method requires a substantial amount of training and has a pretty high error rate, with up to 10-15% error rates reported in some studies. This method relies on precisely built and calibrated calipers that measure skin thickness in millimeters. This layer is known as the subcutaneous fat layer. Skinfold Calipers: One of the most readily accessible ways to estimate body fat is to measure the physical thickness of the adipose (fat) layer directly under the skin.Here is a quick review of those major technologies. Each method has pros and cons and different levels of accuracy. These methods use a wide variety of technologies, ranging from very simple (a tape measure) to very complicated (three-dimensional laser scanning technology. Contact Goshen Physicians to set up an appointment with a primary care provider.As mentioned earlier, there are many ways to estimate body fat. Your doctor can help determine if your weight is causing health problems or putting you at risk for certain diseases. If you work out regularly, body fat percentage should be calculated periodically to provide a more accurate picture of your health and fitness. In comparison to body fat percentage, BMI gives a good idea of an individual’s risk of weight-related diseases quickly and easily. Other more accurate methods, such as X-ray analysis and water displacement, are much more complicated and not readily available. The two most common methods (skin fold measurement and bioelectrical impedance analysis) are often used in homes and gyms, but the accuracy of each varies and the error rates can be as high as eight percent. The downfall of body fat percentage as a measurement is that the methods of determining a person’s body fat percentage are not all equal, and the most accurate methods are not readily available. The American Council on Exercises provides the following ranges for body fat percentage for adults. Likewise, a person of normal weight on the BMI scales may still be overfat and at risk of weight-related diseases. Using body fat percentage, we might find that a highly trained athlete is overweight, according to theīMI, but not overfat. While BMI is a rough estimate of body fat, body fat percentage is a more accurate number. Body fat percentage distinguishes fat from muscle and calculates the percentage of body fat in the body. Research on body fat percentage has improved in recent years, and in some cases, this measurement may provide a better picture of an individual’s risk of weight-related diseases than BMI. A person who has normal weight obesity is just as unhealthy as someone with a high BMI. According to some research, more than half of Americans have a normal BMI but a high body fat percentage, which is known as normal weight obesity. The limitation of BMI is that this measurement does not distinguish fat from muscle. (To determine your BMI, click here.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide the following ranges for BMI values for adults: As BMI increases, so does the risk of developing these and other weight-related diseases, including stroke and some cancers.īMI is a measurement of body fat based on height. BMI is used to assess risk for diseases, especially heart disease and diabetes. Body mass index (BMI) and body fat are both measurements used to determine a person's level of personal fitness and gauge their risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.īut what are the differences between these two measurements? Let's take a look.īody mass index, or BMI, has been touted as the most accurate way to determine the effect of a person’s body weight on his or her health. There are more ways to measure a person's fitness than just stepping on a scale.
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