Body Composition Assessment

Body composition is an important concept when considering the health implications of obesity. Where fat is located on the body may actually be more important than the amount of fat on the body. Body fat distribution can be classified into two types:

Android obesity (upper body) - Obese persons having a greater proportion of fat within the upper body, especially in the abdomen.

Gynoid obesity (lower body)- Obese persons having a greater proportion of fat within the hips and thighs.

Numerous studies have shown that risk for insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels and stroke as well as risk for death are increased in persons with android obesity.

Ways to assess your body composition:

• Waist circumference- the distance around your waist, measured just above the navel. Your goal for waist circumference is < 40 inches if you are a man and <35 inches if you are a woman. Having a waist circumference above these goals increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

• BMI- Body Mass Index- assesses your body weight relative to your height. It’s a useful way to indirectly measure body composition because for most people it correlates to body fat.

• Two people can have the same BMI, but a different percent body fat. People with dense muscle mass may have a high BMI score but very little body fat. For them, the waist circumference, skin fold or fat fold measurements may be more useful measures.

 

Body mass Index (BMI) Table 

Height Weight (in pounds)

4’10”(58”)	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158	162	167
4’11”(59”)	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173
5’ (60”)	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	174	179
5’1” (61”)	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174	180	185
5’2” (62”)	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180	186	191
5’3” (63”)	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	132	139	146	153	160
5’4” (64”)	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192	197	204
5’5” (65”)	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210
5’6” (66”)	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204	210	216
5’7” (67”)	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211	217	223
5’8” (68”)	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216	223	230
5’9” (69”)	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	209	216	223	230	236
5’10”(70”)	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229	236	243
5’11”(71”)	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236	243	250
6’ (72”)	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242	250	258
6’1” (73”)	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250	257	265
6’2” (74”)	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256	264	272
6’3” (75”)	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264	272	279
BMI	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35

BMI Scale:

18 or lower Underweight

19 to 24 Normal

25 to 29 Overweight

30 to 39 Obese

40 + Morbid Obesity

Source: Evidence Report of Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, 1998.

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Another way to calculate your BMI value is to multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.

Http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/bmi-means.htm