Question

1. List and gxplain 3 factors that may influence body composition measure 2. During the lab you were asked to calculate BMI. Explain why BMl is not a good estimate of body c for certain groups. During the lab you conducted skin fold measurement and Bioelectrical impedance. Compare the measurements for one individual. Were the measurements similar? What factors could cause discrepancies between the two outcomes? 3.

Answer 1

The three factors that influence body composition are :

1. Heredity

2. Maturation

3. Physical activity and diet

1. Heredity : every individual has inherited their body type from their parents or ancestors. Some people are born with tendency to be lean , fat or muscular.

2. Maturation : as age increases and the person grow older and the hormone levels begin to change. During the teen years, female hormones cause girls to develop more body fatness than boys.Because of male hormones, teenage boys have greater muscle development than girls.

3. Physical activity and diet: The amount of energy in foods is measured in calories. Most males need more calories than females per day because they are larger and have more muscle mass. Physical Activity plays a major role in body composition . While doing physical activity the body burns Calories for energy. The more vigorous activity a person does, the more energy will be used by body and then they need more Calories. An inactive person uses less energy each day than active person and therefore needs to consume fewer Calories but if they consume more they will land up with fat body Composition.

2. BMI - It is body mass index which is a measure of body fat calculated from weight and height. BMI can be calculated by using the formula :

BMI = weight in kg ÷ height in meter square.

BMI is not the accurate method to measure the body composition because it cannot distinguish body fat and muscle which tends to be more heavier and can put more toned individual in overweight status but in reality they may not. Their fat levels may be less but when we calculate BMI it may show overweight. Thus BMI is not a good or accurate estimate for body composition.