Body fat percentage is a common method of measuring body composition and can be an informative measure of progress when working towards weight loss. Using the scale alone is not always the most accurate because it does not distinguish between fat...
A sad fact about heart disease is that despite its increasingly high rate of occurrence, this condition is quite preventable. In many cases, all it takes is a few wise lifestyle choices to maintain the health of your heart. Despite this,...
Two thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight and almost 1/3 are obese, which puts people at risk for heart disease and stroke, according to Dr. Robert Eckel, president of the American Heart Association. Sadly, only 42 percent of Americans are...
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 68 percent of Americans over the age of 20 were overweight or obese in 2008. Obesity has been directly linked to numerous health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer,...
Waist and Hip Measurements There are a number of factors that can help you estimate your risk for health problems like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. There are those risk factors that you can’t change, like...
In today's health-conscious world, you may wonder if you have managed to maintain a healthy weight. The numbers you read on your bathroom scale only tell you half the story. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, health professionals...
Recognizing that body fat percentage is an important indicator of an individual's overall fitness level, in 1981, the Department of Defense mandated that the armed services develop body composition standards for its personnel. Each branch was free...
Doctors used to look at height and weight charts to determine whether someone was within a normal weight range, but this is no longer enough to determine whether someone is healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...
Having a high percentage of body fat increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Excess fat that is located in the abdominal or waist area raises the risk even higher than excess fat in other areas of the...
The cardiovascular and exercise assessment protocols of the American College of Sports Medicine, ACSM, use weight-to-hip ratios to categorize your risk level for cardiovascular disease and safety at different exercise levels. Higher ratios are...
There are a number of expensive medical methods -- dual energy X-ray, air displacement plethysmography and underwater weighing -- that accurately calculate the percent of your body weight that is stored as fat, but for most people, a quick glance...
Body fat percentage refers to the relative amount of fat that makes up your total body weight. For example, a 150-lb. person with 20 percent body fat would have 30 lbs. of fat and 120 lbs. of lean body mass, or bones, muscle, blood and other...
Body fat, or body-fat percentage, measurements are used to determine what portion of your overall weight is made up of fat. Body-fat percentage is a more accurate way to tell if someone is overweight and a better gauge for monitoring and planning...
Fencing knickers are meant to fit differently than typical athletic pants, which is why it's important to obtain accurate measurements. Depending on the manufacturer you purchase from, the numbered sizes and fits can vary from make to make. By...
Calculating body fat using waist and neck size offers a means to assess body fat for men. The body mass index, or BMI, tends to be inaccurate for muscular individuals, seniors and people with certain physical limitations. Researchers prefer...
It's not easy to determine the the proper weight for your height just by the fit of clothes or a peek in the mirror. The gold standard of judging healthy weight is the body mass index. Reversing the BMI calculation will give you a healthy weight...
Fat around your waist has been linked to an increased chance of developing dementia, reports Harvard Medical School. Being apple-shaped--with a larger midsection--can also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. If your waist measures...
Your body fat percent is the percentage of your total body weight that comes from fat. It's a better measure of general fitness than your weight because it takes body composition into account. You will usually benefit by reducing your body fat...
Evaluating body mass index, or BMI, is one way to determine whether you are at a healthy weight or not. Though BMI is not always an accurate assessment of health, it's a helpful and reliable tool. Waist measurement is another simple way to judge...
The lean mass index is the percentage of your body weight that isn't fat. Some fat is necessary for good health, but most people in the United States will benefit by increasing their lean mass index. The lean mass index is an accurate method of...
As of 2010, about 65 percent of Americans are overweight, and about one in three people is clinically obese, according to the website obesity.org . While being overweight is a serious medical problem, the distribution of body fat can significantly...
Lean body mass is the weight of your body excluding body fat. Measuring lean body mass, also called LBM, is important to medical professionals who use the measurement as an aid for determining correct medication dosages and to calculate how well...
The BMI, or body mass index, is a general measurement of what percentage of your total body weight comes from body fat. A healthy adult should have a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything less than 18.5 is considered underweight and any BMI between...
Your body fat percentage is a common measurement for assessing your overall fitness. It’s more meaningful than your total body weight because a gain in muscle weight is generally healthier than a gain in fat. You can estimate your lean body...
It's no secret that fat, particularly belly fat, is tough to lose after age 50. Factors such as a slower metabolism, high stress, a less active lifestyle and declining hormone levels make the battle of the bulge formidable. Belly fat also puts the...
Around 68 percent of Americans were overweight or obese in 2007/2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Determination of overweight or obesity is generally made through an assessment of body mass index (BMI), which...
Measuring is a more accurate method of monitoring progress during weight loss than using a scale to determine weight. A scale does not measure fat and muscle. Your body burns fat and builds muscle mass, which can cause small weight increases...
Your body shape is predetermined genetically, but that doesn't mean you are stuck with the apple belly. If you have an apple-body shape, it means you store your fat around your midsection. Learn how to slim down the belly, get a healthier...
