Ms.

Neha Dubey
Physiotherapy Resident
Deptt of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences,
UPUMS, Saifai, Etawah, U.P-206130

Measurement of Body composition

The body composition describes the percentages of fat, bone, water, and muscle in the human
body. Body composition and growth are the key components of health in both individuals and
populations. The ongoing epidemic of obesity in children and adults highlighted the importance
of understanding body fat levels for short-term and long-term health. However, other
components of body composition also influence health outcomes, and its measurement is
increasingly valuable in clinical practice.

Measurement
There are many ways to measure body composition; the 9 factors play a major role
1. Weight.
2. Body Fat.
3. BMI
4. Body Water.
5. Lean Mass.
6. Visceral Fat Rating.
7. Muscle Mass.
8. Bone Mass
9. Daily calorie intake

1) Weight
Weight is an overall measure of body mass. The measurement includes all the elements of
the body, e.g. bones, blood, organs, muscles, and fat. It is commonly measured in fitness
testing sessions and is an important process for assessing body composition and for monitoring
changes in weight following diet and exercise.

Factors contribute to weight

1) Hereditary components.
2) Hormonal abnormalities.
3) Exercise.
4) Diet
5) Lifestyle.

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 Body weight scale/ bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) / bathroom scale

Pre-Test Procedures
The following steps to be taken to ensure that the testing session runs smoothly and safely and
that the information collected is accurate.
The standardized methods of testing require the following steps:-

Preparation of Equipment
1. Prepare forms for recording results.
2. Check that all of the required equipment is at hand and functional.
3. Adjust the equipment if required.
4. The testing area must be hazard-free.
5. Have first aid equipment nearby and an emergency procedure prepared.

Pre-Test Measurement
1. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent.
2. Record test conditions, such as date, weather, surface, equipment used.
3. Record basic subject information, such as name, age, height, body weight, gender.
4. Obtain resting heart rate and blood pressure measurements.
Preparation of Athletes
1. Remove restrictive jewelry, watches, bracelets, or hanging earrings that may get caught
in equipment.
2. Explain the test procedures to the subject.
3. Follow a standard warm-up procedure.
4. The actual warm-up conducted will depend on the test being performed.
Pre-testing warm-up
1. 5-10 minutes of light aerobic activity, such as jogging or stationary cycling.
2. Upper and lower body Stretching exercises.

Steps
Purpose: Measuring body mass can be valuable for monitoring body fat or muscle mass
changes, or for monitoring hydration level.
Equipment required: Bodyweight Scales, which should be calibrated for accuracy using
weights authenticated by a government department of weights and measures.
Pre-test: Check and calibrate equipment if required.

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Procedure: The person stands with minimal movement with hands by their side. Shoes and
excess clothing should be removed.
Reliability:
1. To improve reliability, weigh routinely in the morning (12 hours since eating).
2. Bodyweight can be affected by fluid in the bladder (weigh after voiding the bladder).
3. Other factors are the amount of food recently eaten, hydration level, the amount of waste
recently expelled from the body, recent exercise and clothing.

2. Body Fat
The body fat is an important component of the body for overall health. More technically
known as adipose tissue, body fat is a spongy tissue that is stored in the bones, organs,
central nervous system, and muscles. The amount of fat needed in the body is different for
men and women. The men should have at least 2 to 5 percent body fat while healthy women
need anywhere from 10 to 13 percent for essential bodily functions. The excess fat in the
body is known as non-essential fat and is where excess energy is stored. There are different
ways to estimate or measure body fat, but one of the most effective calculations is to
measure body fat by skin-fold calipers.

Skin-fold calipers
According to the national institute of health (PMC); skin-fold measurements estimate body fat
for over 50 years. It measures the thickness of the subcutaneous fat (fat underneath the skin at
certain body locations). The measurements were taken at either 3 or 7 different sites on the body.
According to the ACSM guideline and resource manual; the specific sites used vary in men and
women.

Women
1. For 3-site measurement: - The triceps (area above the hip bone and either the thigh or
abdomen).
2. For a 7-site measurement in women, the chest (area near the armpit and area beneath the
shoulder blade are also measured).
Men
1. The 3 sites are the chest, abdomen, and thigh, or the chest, triceps and area beneath the
scapula.
2. For a 7-site measurement in men (the areas near the armpit and beneath the shoulder
blade are also measured).

• Advantages
o Skin-fold calipers are very affordable,
o Measurements can be taken very quickly.

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 o They can be used at home but are also portable.
• Disadvantages
o The method requires practice and basic anatomy knowledge.
o Some people don’t enjoy getting their fat pinched.

• Accuracy: Lukaski Henry Charles (2017) explains that the skill of the person performing
the skin-folds can vary impacting the accuracy with the measurement errors ranges from
3.5–5% body fat.

3. BMI
The BMI or Body Mass Index is a measurement of weight versus height. It is an important
factor in considering the overall health and can be an indicator of high overall body fat.
BMI applies to both adult men and women and is the calculation of body weight in relation to
height. This calculation can also be used to screen for specific health conditions that may be
related to disproportionate weight.BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height using
standard or metric measures.
There are 2 ways to calculate BMI
• Metric BMI Formula
• Imperial BMI Formula

Metric BMI Formula

BMI= Weight (kg) / [height (m)] 2

Imperial BMI Formula

BMI= 703 x weight (lbs) / [height (in)] 2

BMI Categories:-
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

4. Body Water
Body water is an important physiological measure that can significantly impact overall
health. This factor is a measure of the water content in the various tissues, blood, bones, and
other components of your body. It contributes significantly to the human body both in terms
of weight and volume. Maintaining the right amount of water in the body is part of fluid
balance and homeostasis. The average adult male has the water content of approximately 70
percent; however, most adults fall somewhere below 65 percent. A body fat scale is one of
the only ways to estimate the total body water percentage at home. P E Watson (1980)
calculated the total body water by applying the following Watson formula

Watson formula for men

Total Body Water (TBW) = 2.447 - 0.09156 X age + 0.1074 X height + 0.3362 X weight
Where; Water in Liters
Age in years
Height in cm
Weight in kg

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Watson formula for Female
TBW = -2.097 + 0.1069 X height + 0.2466 X weight

Where, Water in Liters

Height in cm
Weight in kg

5. Lean Mass
The lean body mass is a calculation of the amount of weight the body carries that isn’t fat.
According to the National Institute of Health (PMC), the measurement of the lean body
mass (LBM) in kg can be calculated by adding weight in kilograms for “W” and height in
centimeters for “H” into the following equation.

Men:
Lean body mass = (0.32810 × W) + (0.33929 × H) − 29.5336.

Women:
Lean body mass = (0.29569 × W) + (0.41813 × H) − 43.2933.

*Note: 1lb = 0.453592kg, and 1in = 2.54cm

6. Visceral Fat Rating

Visceral fat is an extremely important calculation that presents information regarding
overall health and the potential to develop a number of alarming health conditions. It can be
described as the body fat that surrounds the waist. It is stored deep under the skin and is
generally wrapped around major organs, such as your liver, pancreas, and kidneys. This is
an important component of your body, as it ensures there is an appropriate distance between
each organ. But too much visceral fat creates too much space and can lead to an increase in
blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack. Visceral fat can be calculated by
measuring the largest parts around your waist and hips by using a measuring tape.
Measure the waistline without pulling the tape tight at the level of the belly button (not at the
narrowest part of the torso) and always measure in the same place.
In women, a waist circumference of 35 inches or larger is generally considered a sign of excess
visceral fat. In men, it’s 40. The alarming condition is the overall large body size.

7. Muscle Mass
Muscle mass is a key measurement of the muscles in your body in pounds or kilograms. It
plays an important role in the overall fitness, as muscles burn energy and fat all the time. As
the muscle mass increases the body is able to burn calories or energy faster which has the
effect of increasing weight loss. There are a few methods that can be used to measure muscle
mass despite the fact that its accuracy is questionable in some instances. The methods includes
are:

MRI
The Journal of Applied Physiology (2014) concluded that the most reliable method of calculating
muscle mass percentage is MRI. The July 2000 study reported an accurate reading of muscle
mass by examining the age, body weight, height and gender had on skeletal muscle mass
distribution.
Scale (Body fat Scale)

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The University of California, Berkeley assesses the body mass by using body fat scale by using
bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)/ bathroom scale

Circumference value (CV)

The Naval Physical Readiness Program recommends a formula that measures the circumference
of different body parts to measure the circumference value (CV) which are then placed on a chart
and can be used to calculate lean body mass percentage. The military uses this method of
calculating body fat and lean body mass percentage, though it’s not completely accurate.

8. Bone Mass
Bone mass is a measurement of the overall bone mineral density of the body. This measure
provides an important snapshot of your overall bone health. Low bone density can be a key
indicator of osteoporosis.

9. Daily Caloric Intake (DCI)

Your caloric intake is a combination of all of the food you take in each day. Calories are
used to measure the energy content of food and beverages. In order to lose weight, you need
to eat fewer calories than your body needs for energy each day and vice versa.

Steps of DCI
Step 1: Calculate the body weight in kilograms.
Step 2: Multiply weight in kilograms by 0.9 for woman and 1.0 for man.
Step 3: Multiply by 24
Step 4: Multiply by the “Lean Factor” from the table below.

Example: 61 kg (134.5 lbs.) x 0.9 (female) x 24 x 0.95 (20% body fat) = 1252; we will get
the BMR (Basal metabolic rate) = 1252

Step 5: Multiply by Activity Modifier

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The daily calorie need would be: 1252 (BMR) x 1.55 (Light Activity) = 1940 calories/day.