Used to show a normal range of weight of people of anyparticular height
Overweight people for their height are unlikely to be very fit
Some people who are underweight for their height could be fite.g. marathon runners although people who are veryunderweight are unlikely to be fit as they have too little muscletissue
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Strengths of height and weight charts
Based on standardised data
Easy to use
Can be done in your own home
Can be used to monitor progress over time
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weaknesess of Height and weight charts
Takes no account of body build
Takes no account of the proportion of fat in a person’s body compared with muscle
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Body mass index (BMI)
Indicates a person’s body weight in relation to height
Calculated by finding the person’s weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of his/her height in metres
BMI= weight (kg)/height (m)2
Range between 18.5 and 24.9kg/m2 is normal
Less than 18.5 kg/m2 is underweight Range between 25 and 29.9kg/m2 is overweight
More than 30kg/m2 is obese
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Strengths of BMI
Standardised measure so an individual’s score can be compared with population norms
Shows progress as a result of an exercise programme for example
Quick and easy
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Weaknesses of BMI
Takes no account of body build
Takes no account of the proportion of fat in a person’s body compared with muscle
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Exercise Pulse Rates
Pulse rate is a measure of how fast the heart is beating
Gives an indication of aerobic fitness
Pulse rate must be measured at rest to establish a base line measure
People who have a lower resting pulse rate are generally fitter aerobically
This is because in a fit person, the heart’s stroke volume is likely to be higher, so the heart can deliver enough oxygen to tissues without having to beat as frequently as that of an unfit person
Average resting pulse rate for an adult ranges from 60bpm to 80bpm
A fit person is likely to range from 40bpm to 60bpm
Children and elderly people have higher resting pulse rates
Pulse rate can be an indication of fitness during exercise
If 2 people are doing the same amount of exercise and one person’s pulse rate is lower than the other then this person is likely to be aerobically fitter. This is partly due to a greater stroke volume
Recovery rate is also a good indicator of someone's fitness
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Strengths of exercise pulse rate
Standardised data on average resting and exercise pulse rates are available for different age groups and sexes, so comparisons can be made
The pattern of pulse rate before, during and after exercise is one of the best indicators of aerobic fitness
Pulse rate usually taken at radial or carotid pressure points
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Weaknesses of Exercise pulse rate
Difficult to measure during exercise so can use pressure sensors on the wrist
Electrocardiography- electrical sensors attached to skin on chest. These give more detail about what is happening in different parts of the heart and circulatory system. This is specialised equipment and not widely available
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