benefits of healthy body composition

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Benefits of Healthy Body Benefits of Healthy Body CompositionComposition

Better healthBetter health Improved Improved

performance of performance of physical physical activitiesactivities

Better self-Better self-imageimage


Body CompositionBody Composition Fat-free mass Fat-free mass

– all the body’s all the body’s nonfat tissuesnonfat tissues

– bone, water, bone, water, muscle, connective muscle, connective tissue, organ tissue, organ tissues, teethtissues, teeth


Body CompositionBody Composition Fatty Tissue Fatty Tissue

– essential fat (needed essential fat (needed for body function)for body function)

found in nerves, found in nerves, brain, heart, lungs, brain, heart, lungs, liver, mammary liver, mammary glandsglands

– nonessential (storage) nonessential (storage) fat (excess body fat)fat (excess body fat)

found in adipose found in adipose tissue tissue

Image source: http://www.mindquest.net/biology/histology/connective-tissue.html


Overweight and Obesity BasicsOverweight and Obesity Basics

Overweight: total body Overweight: total body weight above weight above recommended rangerecommended range

Obesity: more serious Obesity: more serious degree of overweight degree of overweight based on percent body fat based on percent body fat or other methodor other method

Percent body fat --Percent body fat --proportion of body’s total proportion of body’s total weight that is fat -- is a weight that is fat -- is a more accurate more accurate measurement of body measurement of body composition than total composition than total body weightbody weight


Body Composition in the United StatesBody Composition in the United States

More than 50% of More than 50% of American adults are American adults are classified as classified as overweightoverweight

17.9% of American 17.9% of American adults are classified adults are classified as obeseas obese

Sedentary lifestyles Sedentary lifestyles are on the increaseare on the increase

Average calorie Average calorie intake has increased intake has increased by 100-300 by 100-300 calories/day in 10 calories/day in 10 yearsyears

NAAFA supporters protesting inadequate health care for fat people in front of the White House August 1994.

Image source: http://www.naafa.org/


Assessing Body Composition (I)Assessing Body Composition (I)

Body Mass Index (BMI)Body Mass Index (BMI)– calculated by dividing weight by square calculated by dividing weight by square

of height of height

– Weight in Kg = Weight in Lbs/2.2Weight in Kg = Weight in Lbs/2.2

– 180/2.2 = 81.8 kg180/2.2 = 81.8 kg– 1.8 m X 2 = 3.241.8 m X 2 = 3.24– 81.8/3.24 = 25.24781.8/3.24 = 25.247


Assessing Body Composition (II)Assessing Body Composition (II)

Percent body fat Percent body fat – calculated using calculated using

skinfold skinfold measurementsmeasurements


Assessing Body Composition (III)Assessing Body Composition (III)

Other methods Other methods – underwater (hydrostatic) weighing underwater (hydrostatic) weighing – bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)

Tanita TBF300 GS

Image Source: http://bodytrends.com/laf.htm


Measuring Body Fat DistributionMeasuring Body Fat Distribution

Waist circumference Waist circumference measurementmeasurement

Waist-to-hip-Waist-to-hip-circumference ratiocircumference ratio

Results that exceed Results that exceed norms are associated norms are associated with significant health with significant health risksrisks


Somatotype: Endomorph Somatotype: Endomorph _ A type of body build in which a A type of body build in which a

majority of tissues are derived majority of tissues are derived from the endoderm. There is a from the endoderm. There is a relative preponderance of soft relative preponderance of soft roundness throughout the body, roundness throughout the body, with large digestive viscera and with large digestive viscera and accumulations of fat, and with accumulations of fat, and with large trunk and thighs and large trunk and thighs and tapering extremities, as tapering extremities, as contrasted with ectomorph and contrasted with ectomorph and mesomorph (Dorland's Medical mesomorph (Dorland's Medical Dictionary).Dictionary).


Somatotype: Ectomorph Somatotype: Ectomorph

_ A type of body build in which tissues A type of body build in which tissues derived from the ectoderm predominate; derived from the ectoderm predominate; there is a preponderance of linearity and there is a preponderance of linearity and fragility, with large surface area, thin fragility, with large surface area, thin muscles and subcutaneous tissue, and muscles and subcutaneous tissue, and slightly developed digestive viscera, as slightly developed digestive viscera, as contrasted with endomorph and contrasted with endomorph and mesomorphmesomorph

_ (Dorland's Medical Dictionary).(Dorland's Medical Dictionary).


Somatotype: Mesomorph Somatotype: Mesomorph

_ A type of body build in which tissues A type of body build in which tissues derived from the mesoderm predominate. derived from the mesoderm predominate. There is relative preponderance of muscle, There is relative preponderance of muscle, bone, and connective tissue, usually with bone, and connective tissue, usually with heavy, hard physique of rectangular heavy, hard physique of rectangular outline. This somatotype is classified outline. This somatotype is classified between the ectomorph and the between the ectomorph and the endomorphendomorph

_ (Dorland's Medical Dictionary).(Dorland's Medical Dictionary).


Achieving Healthy Body Weight and Achieving Healthy Body Weight and

CompositionComposition Set an overall goal and realistic Set an overall goal and realistic

intermediate goalsintermediate goals Calculate a target body weight or percent Calculate a target body weight or percent

body fatbody fat Increase level of activityIncrease level of activity Follow a healthy dietFollow a healthy diet Track progress Track progress

benefits of healthy body composition

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