When people consume more calories than they need in a day, fat is stored in the adipose tissue of the body, which can lead to health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones, respiratory problems, gout, complications during pregnancy or during surgery, cancer and many other health problems.
Body Mass Index
The Body Mass Index, or BMI is one way to measure if a person is underweight, at a normal weight, overweight or obese. According to the authors Sizer and Whitney of the book, "Nutrition Concepts and Controversies" your BMI is determined by your height and body weight. A BMI of 18.5 and lower is condsidered underweight, a BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy and a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight and greater than 30 is obese.
Hydrostatic Weighing
Hydrostatic weighing is considered the gold standard in determining a person's body fat percentage since it is the most accurate. To begin this test, you will sit on a chair dressed in a swimsuit. You will expel all the air out of your lungs before being lowered into the water. Once you are completely under water, the examiner determines your body's density by measuring the amount of water displaced when you enter the tank. The examiner can then calculate your body fat based on your body's density.
Bioeletrical Impendance Analysis
Bioeletrical Impendance Analysis, or BIA is a common way to measure your percentage of body fat through a scale. A harmless electrical shock, of which you do not feel goes through your body when you step on the scale. The electrical shock can go through fat free mass, such as muscle quicker than fat. The amount of resistance is related to how much body fat a person has. However, these scales are sensitive and can be influences by skin temperature, recent physical activity and food consumption.
Body Fat Calipers
Body Fat Calipers can also be used to determine a person's body fat percentage. These calipers measure the skin folds in different places of the body. These measurements are then put into an equation and calculated to determine the percentage of body fat. According to Sports Fitness Advisors, calipers gives you a percentage within 4 percent accuracy.
References
- "Nutrition Concepts and Controversies"; Sizer, Frances; Whitney, Ellie; 2006.
- Sports Fitness Advisor: How To Use Body Fat Calipers
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