Possibly, you have heard the term but do not really understand it. What does your body fat percentage mean? Essentially, it is an estimate of the fraction of the total body mass that is fat mass, or adipose tissue rather than lean body mass such as muscle, bone, organ tissue, blood and all the rest. Lean body mass also goes under the name of fat free mass. Keeping track of your body fat percentage helps you to monitor your progress during a diet. It also serves as a measure of physical fitness for sports like bodybuilding.
As a measure of excess body weight, one’s body fat percentage is far more reliable than one’s body mass index (BMI). This is because body fat percentage makes a distinction between the weight of muscle mass and that of the fat mass. BMI, on the other hand, simply groups all masses and gives a single figure. Despite its accuracy, measurement of body fat percentage is not as widely used as BMI. The reason is that measuring body fat percentage calls for equipment that is not always readily accessible. In addition, there is always a margin of error, even if a qualified person performs the measurement process.
Total body fat percentage comprises of fat essential to the metabolism as well as stored fat. Essential fat is indispensable in terms of maintaining life and reproductive functions of the body. The essential body fat percentage is greater for women than that for men because their bodies have to deal with the demands of childbearing and other hormonal functions. According to the accepted norms, essential fat is 2-5% for men and 10-13% for women. The minimum total body fat percentage recommended by medical professionals is more than this essential fat percentage. Storage fat refers to the fat accumulation in adipose tissue. Some of the adipose tissue is essential for protecting internal organs in the chest and abdomen and it is slightly higher for women than for men.
There are various methods for measuring body fat percentage. However, the two most poplar methods are the skin-fold method and the height-circumference method. In the skin-fold method, the tester measures a pinch of skin with special calipers at several standardized points on the body. In this way, one can determine the layer thickness of the subcutaneous fat (fat below the skin). The tester then converts these measurements to an estimated body fat percentage with the help of an equation. Depending on the formula employed, the tester may take as few as three measurements or as many as seven.
The accuracy of these estimates depends more on the tested person’s unique body fat distribution rather than on how many sites the tester measures. While using this method of measuring body fat percentage, the tester must ensure that he uses a fixed pressure in very specific locations. The skin-fold method is quite reliable as a measure of body composition changes over a certain period, even though it may not give an accurate reading of actual body fat percentage. In the skin-fold method to estimate body fat percentage, a lot depends on the type of caliper used as well as on the technique. It applies to only subcutaneous adipose tissue.
The formula used in the height and circumference method of measuring body fat percentage takes into account an individual’s weight and girth measurements. There are several variations, one of which is the U.S. Navy Circumference method. This method compares abdomen or waist and hips measurements to neck measurement and height a well as other areas. The tester then converts the findings to the body mass index to estimate the body fat percentage. In the variant used in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, the tester measures the neck and waist just above the naval in the case of males and the hips, waist, and neck in the case of females. He then compares these measurements with a height/weight chart, factoring in the subject’s age.
This is a preferred method because it is a cheap and convenient means. However, it is subject to possible inaccuracy because the subject can cheat on it by holding in the stomach or flaring out the neck to enlarge these areas.
As a measure of excess body weight, one’s body fat percentage is far more reliable than one’s body mass index (BMI). This is because body fat percentage makes a distinction between the weight of muscle mass and that of the fat mass. BMI, on the other hand, simply groups all masses and gives a single figure. Despite its accuracy, measurement of body fat percentage is not as widely used as BMI. The reason is that measuring body fat percentage calls for equipment that is not always readily accessible. In addition, there is always a margin of error, even if a qualified person performs the measurement process.
Total body fat percentage comprises of fat essential to the metabolism as well as stored fat. Essential fat is indispensable in terms of maintaining life and reproductive functions of the body. The essential body fat percentage is greater for women than that for men because their bodies have to deal with the demands of childbearing and other hormonal functions. According to the accepted norms, essential fat is 2-5% for men and 10-13% for women. The minimum total body fat percentage recommended by medical professionals is more than this essential fat percentage. Storage fat refers to the fat accumulation in adipose tissue. Some of the adipose tissue is essential for protecting internal organs in the chest and abdomen and it is slightly higher for women than for men.
There are various methods for measuring body fat percentage. However, the two most poplar methods are the skin-fold method and the height-circumference method. In the skin-fold method, the tester measures a pinch of skin with special calipers at several standardized points on the body. In this way, one can determine the layer thickness of the subcutaneous fat (fat below the skin). The tester then converts these measurements to an estimated body fat percentage with the help of an equation. Depending on the formula employed, the tester may take as few as three measurements or as many as seven.
The accuracy of these estimates depends more on the tested person’s unique body fat distribution rather than on how many sites the tester measures. While using this method of measuring body fat percentage, the tester must ensure that he uses a fixed pressure in very specific locations. The skin-fold method is quite reliable as a measure of body composition changes over a certain period, even though it may not give an accurate reading of actual body fat percentage. In the skin-fold method to estimate body fat percentage, a lot depends on the type of caliper used as well as on the technique. It applies to only subcutaneous adipose tissue.
The formula used in the height and circumference method of measuring body fat percentage takes into account an individual’s weight and girth measurements. There are several variations, one of which is the U.S. Navy Circumference method. This method compares abdomen or waist and hips measurements to neck measurement and height a well as other areas. The tester then converts the findings to the body mass index to estimate the body fat percentage. In the variant used in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, the tester measures the neck and waist just above the naval in the case of males and the hips, waist, and neck in the case of females. He then compares these measurements with a height/weight chart, factoring in the subject’s age.
This is a preferred method because it is a cheap and convenient means. However, it is subject to possible inaccuracy because the subject can cheat on it by holding in the stomach or flaring out the neck to enlarge these areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment