Arab British Academy for Higher Education Body Composition
Obesity is defined as that percentage of body fat that begins to increase the chances
for cardiovascular disease. Ideal body fat levels for men are 12% to 17% and 18% to
22% for women. As previously mentioned, body fat is essential for certain bodily
functions. Sometimes body type, determined genetically, prevents an individual from
achieving unrealistic body shaping goals. There are basically three body types. The
Endomorph is characterized by a large block shaped body. The Mesomorph is
characterized by a solid muscular structure. The Ectomorph is characterized by a
frail, slight build and very little fat.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is an accepted indicator. Originally used by insurance
companies as a measure of fitness. It is a ratio of weight to height. However, this
method is not accurate for athletic builds. It is difficult to explain to a client why they
are considered obese by this method when their body fat level is only 5%. For this
reason, we won't include a BMI chart here. However, to calculate your BMI, use the
following formula for a 150 lb (68 kg) individual who is 65 inches (165 cm) tall:
BMI
(English)
= (Weight x 704) / (Height x Height)
= 25
BMI (Metric)
= (Weight x 10000) / (Height x Height)
= 25
Underweight
BMI less than 18.5
Healthy weight
BMI 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight
BMI 25 to 29.9
Obese
BMI 30 to 39.9
These BMI interpretations are based On Clinical Guidelines On The Identification,
Evaluation, and Treatment Of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. NHLBI Obesity
Education Initiative. National Institutes Of Health, 1998.
There are various other methods for determining the amount of body fat, none are
exact. The most accurate is hydrostatic weighing. The individual is weighed in air
then weighed in water. The water weight is subtracted from the air weight. The body
fat percentage is derived from these two figures. There are electrical impedance,
ultrasound and infrared measuring devices also; both are not as accurate. The most
common and relatively accurate method is by skin caliper.
1 www.abahe.co.uk Arab British Academy for Higher Education There are three methods of interpreting skinfold measurements to body composition.
The first is the Durnan Formula based on the four-point method and is based on a
standard adult population. The second is the Jackson-Pollack three-point method
and is based on a lean athlete. The third is the Slaughter-Lohman two-point method
based on a child population of 8 to 18 years of age.
To determine body fat by the skin caliper method using the Durnan Formula, four
points are measured on the right side of the body according to the table below. First,
using the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, grasp the skin about 1 cm above the
site location. Hold the calipers perpendicular to the site and measure while still
grasping the skin. Take three readings and record the average caliper measurement
for that site. Now measure the other sites. The four caliper measurements are then
summed. This total measurement in millimeters is then matched up with the table on
the following page for men or women. Taking readings after exercise will give false
readings.
Creative Health Products in Plymouth, Michigan is one source of a very wide variety
of skinfold calipers in all price ranges.
SITE
LOCATION
Biceps
Parallel to long axis, midway between shoulder and elbow
Triceps
Parallel to long axis, midway between shoulder and elbow, arm flexed
Subscapular
Diagonally, 1 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula
Suprailiac
Horizontally, just above iliac crest
2 www.abahe.co.uk Arab British Academy for Higher Education Percent Body Fat
(Sum of four locations)
mm
WOMEN
MEN (Age in years)
Skin
Fold
1620
2126
2732
3337
3344
4549
50+
1620
2126
2732
3337
3844
45-
50+
49
14
7.1
9.4
11.8
14.1
15.1
16.0
17.0
16
9.0
11.2
13.5
15.7
16.7
17.6
18.6
18
10.5
12.7
14.9
17.1
18.1
19.1
20.1
20
6.1
8.1
10.1
12.1
12.2
12.2
12.5
12.0
14.1
16.3
18.4
19.1
19.8
21.4
22
7.3
9.2
11.1
13.0
13.2
13.4
13.9
13.4
15.4
17.5
19.5
20.5
21.6
22.6
24
8.3
10.2
12.1
14.0
14.2
14.6
15.1
14.5
16.5
18.6
20.6
20.8
21.1
23.7
26
9.6
11.2
12.8
14.4
15.2
15.6
16.3
15.7
17.6
19.6
21.5
22.4
23.3
24.8
28
10.8
12.1
13.4
14.5
16.1
16.8
17.4
16.7
18.6
20.5
22.4
23.2
23.9
25.7
30
11.3
12.9
14.6
16.2
16.9
17.7
18.5
17.6
19.5
21.4
23.3
23.9
24.5
26.6
35
13.2
14.7
16.2
17.7
18.7
19.6
20.8
19.8
21.6
23.4
25.2
25.8
26.4
28.6
40
14.9
16.3
17.8
19.2
20.3
21.3
22.8
21.7
23.4
25.1
26.8
27.5
28.2
30.3
45
16.4
17.7
19.1
20.4
21.8
23.0
24.7
23.4
25.0
26.7
28.3
28.9
29.6
31.9
50
17.8
19.0
20.3
21.5
23.0
24.6
26.3
25.0
26.5
28.1
29.6
30.3
31.0
33.2
55
19.1
20.2
21.4
22.5
24.2
25.9
27.8
26.3
27.8
29.3
30.8
31.4
32.1
34.6
60
20.1
21.2
22.4
23.5
25.3
27.1
29.1
27.7
29.1
30.5
31.9
32.5
33.2
35.7
65
21.2
22.2
23.3
24.3
26.3
28.2
30.4
28.9
30.2
31.6
32.9
33.5
34.1
36.7
70
22.2
23.2
24.2
25.1
27.2
29.3
31.5
29.9
31.2
32.6
33.9
34.4
35.0
37.7
75
23.1
24.0
25.0
25.9
28.0
30.3
32.6
31.0
32.2
33.5
34.7
35.3
35.9
38.6
80
23.9
24.8
25.7
26.6
28.8
31.2
33.7
31.9
33.1
34.4
35.6
36.1
36.7
39.5
85
24.8
25.6
26.4
27.2
29.6
32.1
34.6
32.9
34.0
35.2
36.3
36.9
37.5
40.4
90
25.6
26.3
27.1
27.8
30.3
33.0
35.5
33.6
34.8
36.0
37.1
37.8
38.3
41.1
3 www.abahe.co.uk Arab British Academy for Higher Education 95
26.3
27.0
27.7
28.4
31.0
33.7
36.5
34.5
35.6
36.7
37.8
38.4
39.0
41.9
100
26.9
27.6
28.3
29.0
31.7
34.4
37.3
35.2
36.3
37.4
38.5
39.1
39.7
42.6
110
28.2
28.8
29.5
30.1
32.9
35.8
38.8
36.7
37.7
38.7
39.7
40.3
41.0
43.9
120
29.3
29.9
30.5
31.1
34.0
37.0
40.2
38.1
39.0
39.9
40.8
41.4
42.0
45.1
130
30.6
31.0
31.5
31.9
35.0
38.2
41.5
39.4
40.2
41.1
41.9
42.4
43.0
46.2
140
31.5
31.9
32.3
32.7
36.0
39.2
42.8
40.5
41.3
42.1
42.9
43.4
44.0
47.3
150
32.5
32.8
33.2
33.5
36.8
40.2
43.9
41.6
42.3
43.1
43.8
44.4
45.0
48.2
160
32.2
33.6
35.0
36.3
37.7
41.4
45.0
42.5
43.2
44.0
44.7
45.2
45.8
49.1
170
33.0
34.4
35.8
37.1
38.5
42.3
46.0
44.2
44.6
45.1
45.5
46.0
46.6
50.0
180
33.9
35.2
36.5
37.9
39.2
43.1
47.0
44.4
45.0
45.6
46.2
46.8
47.4
50.8
Based on the Durnan Formula, four-point method.
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