Body composition, BMI and diet

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  • Created by: claud
  • Created on: 31-05-15 12:44

Body composition

WHAT IS BODY COMPOSITION?

  • the chemical make up of the body
  • split into two components

FAT MASS

  • percentage of body weight that is stored as fat

LEAN BODY MASS

  • all the body's non fat tissues including bone, muscle, organs and tissue

Elite athletes typically have less body fat, men around 6-12% and women 12-20% depending on their sport.

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Body composition assessment

HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING

  • athlete is weighed while totally immersed in a water tank
  • difference between weight on scales and weight in water = athlete's fat mass percentage

+   practically most accurate

-   not available to most

-   only estimates density of fat free mass

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Body composition assessment

Bioelectical Impedance Spectroscopy (BIS)

  • sends a low electrical current through the body
  • bioelectical impedence = resistance
  • electric current encounters resistance in fat tissue

+   fairly accurate

-   not practical

-   affected by hydration of performer

-   uses average populations, less accurate for elite athletes

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Body composition assessment

SKINFOLD CALLIPERS

  • there are four places on the body where you measure fat in mm
  • places on the body must be specific

+   accessible

+   cheap

+   practical

-    testers need to be properly trained

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Body mass index BMI

  • BMI = medical standard to measure weight and obesity (measure of fatness)
  • Calculated by weight in kg divided by height in m squared.
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