Hydrostatic weighing underwater weighing a method of measuring body composition whereby the subject is submerged into a tank of water and body composition is determined based on total body density using archimedes principle of displacement the weight of displaced fluid can be found mathematically. Volume is measured by the bod pod. In women body composition measurements should be taken at the thigh the top of the hips and the triceps. Available techniques allow for the measurement of fat fat free mass bone mineral content total body water extracellular water total adipose tissue and its subdepots visceral subcutaneous and intermuscular skeletal muscle select organs and ectopic fat depots. Air displacement plethysmography adp and bioelectrical impedance bia are two easytouse measures of body composition. The percentage of your body that is not fat is fat free mass.
There are normal ranges for body fat which differ for men and women. The present study aimed to assess the reproducibility of adp and bia and compare them with each other as well as with skinfold measurement. When you measure body composition make sure to remember to measure the correct areas. In men measurements should be taken at the chest the thighs and the abdomen. The technique uses tried and true variables that feature a low percentage of error. Measuring the circumference of certain body parts is a simple method of body fat estimation.
We know the density of fat muscle and bone and water. Body fat percent is a measurement of body composition telling how much of the weight of your body is fat. Ihealths scales are one way to measure body composition. Many techniques are available for body composition assessment which range from simple indirect measures to more sophisticated direct volumetric measurements. For example the us army uses a body fat calculation that simply requires an individuals age height. Since the density of an object in this case your body equals mass divided by volume we know mass equals your body weight.
Hydrostatic weighing is an incredibly accurate technique for measuring body composition. Weighing yourself on a regular bathroom scale does not assess your body composition. Ongoing efforts involve multisegmental and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis quantitative magnetic resonance for total body water fat and lean tissue measurements imaging to further define ectopic fat depots. The pod measures the volume of air you displace allowing the bod pod to measure your overall density. This blog outlines the nine types of body compositions and how they can be measured here. Some of the methods that are used today include anthropometry tracer dilution densitometry dual energy x ray absorptiometry air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Gallery of Body Composition Measurement Techniques
