Body Composition

It is well established that excess body fat is harmful to health. The excess fat puts an extra strain on your heart, and is also linked to increased rates of Types 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, gallstones, and several types of cancer.

How fat is too fat?

For young men - ages 27 or younger - is 20 percent body fat.
Anything above 20 percent is considered obese.
For young women - ages 27 or younger - the danger point is 30 percent body fat.
For men and women older than 27:
25 percent body fat for men,
35 percent body fat for women.

However, as mounting evidence shows that even a slight fat is not natural as we age. It due instead to an increasing lack of physical activity. More doctors are beginning to insist that everyone should aim for the 20 percent or less (for men) and 30 percent or less (for women) content of body fat, to ensure optimal health.

Methods of Estimating Body Fat

Body composition refers to the makeup of the body in terms of a lean mass (muscle, bone, vital tissue and organs) and fat mass.
Any of the followed techniques can be used to get a more accurate estimate of your percentage body fat:

Calipers can be used to take skinfold measurements at certain key areas, such as the side of the abdomen and the back of the arm. The thickness of the skinfolds can be translated into a percentage figure. Calipers are inexpensive and portable. This is the most common and most practical method of measuring fat. Calipers measurements are available in many physical therapy clinics and health clubs.

Underwater weighing is one of the most accurate methods of determining body fat, but is rarely utilized except in experimental conditions. Your weight underwater reflects your density. By comparing this figure to your weight on dry land, you can determine how much of your weight is muscle and bone and how much is fat. This method requires a large tank and complicated apparatus, usually found only in exercise physiology labs.

Bioelectric Impedance estimates body density by measuring the amount of water in the body. This method involves sending a very low electric current through your body, using electrodes attached to the hands and feet. The degree to which your body impedes the current flow is measured. This figure can be used to calculate your body density.

Ultrasound assessment uses a portable ultrasound meter to calculate the thickness of the fat layers at various points. Based on the length of time it takes for sound waves to pass through your body.

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