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BODY
COMPOSITION
Body Composition is the concept
describing the relative percentage of muscle, fat and bone in our
body. Body Composition analysis is a tool often used in the assessment
of a person's state of fitness as it can tell us much about the
physical characteristics of the person.
Skinfolds
Body Fat Percentage
Equipment:
Skinfold
calipers.
Target
Population: Everyone who accepts bodily intrusion.
Advantages:
Very little equipment needed.
Disadvantages:
Results are subjective and rely on testers
skill with calipers.
Procedure:
Four
site method: Biceps, Triceps, Subscapular and Suprailiac (Durnin
& Womersley). Take three skinfolds at each site and find an
average for the site. Write the average mm skinfold value down for
each site and add them all together, to get a "sum of skinfold
measurements" in mm.
Before
each site is measured tense the muscle underneath and then relax
the area (the arm readings are done with arms by side). Take the
reading after a normal breath out.
Male
testers should be aware of the ethical considerations of testing
females. Do this accompanied with another female if possible.
| Sum
of four skinfolds to give body fat percentage: |
Males
|
Females
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Body
Fat Percentage overall ratings table
| Body
Fat % |
Men
|
Women
|
Male
Athletes
|
Female
Athletes
|
| Lean |
<12.0
|
<17
|
<7.0
|
<12.0
|
| Average |
12-20.9
|
17-27.0
|
7-14.0
|
12-24.9
|
| Moderately
Overweight |
21-25.9
|
28-32.9
|
>15.0
|
>25.0
|
| Overweight |
>26
|
>33
|
N/A
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N/A
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