Module 3: Body Composition
Jayden Emberton-Gaines
SER 311 01 Testing and Exercise Prescription Laboratory
Dr. L
4/1/2019
I. Background:
Body composition is essentially seeing what you are made of. Body composition
is used to determine the percentages of fat, bone, water and muscle within the human
body. Muscular tissue is known to take up less space in the body than does fat tissue,
with that taken into consideration, body composition as well as weight will determine
one’s leanness.
Body composition is most importantly assessed to recognize different health
concerns such as obesity, risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), loss of muscle mass
(age-related), as well as to encourage people to increase their activity levels in their
daily lives. These are all very concerning health factors seen often in today’s daily
life.
Obesity is a very concerning health issue that has a combination of contributing
factors, the biggest including behavior and genetics. On the behavioral side of things
healthy lifestyle choices such as a healthy diet pattern as well as daily physical
activity/ exercise are extremely important. It is said that genes do play a role in
developing obesity in how people will respond to an environment that promotes
physical inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle.
Body composition tests are good ways to determine the risk one has to develop
CVD. This can be determined through a number of different tests. Certain tests will
be administered on a client and those results will determine their risk for CVD
according to certain scales researched by the American College of Sports Medicine
(ACSM).
An age-related loss of muscle mass can also be determined by body composition
tests. This is one of the easier things to asses on a client, due to it being common in
elder clients. Many of the body composition tests already test for the amount of lean
muscle mass one has on their body so with lower number than usual it will be easy to
tell if an individual has experienced a loss of muscle mass.
Finally, these tests and their results can help push individuals to exercise more
often. The results of being obese, higher risk of CVD, and loss of muscle mass can
all drive a client to start living a healthier lifestyle with both their diet and exercise
regimen. If a client does not hear the results the wanted to hear or expected to hear
that can drive them to make the necessary changes to earn those results.
II. Data:
Name: Jayden Emberton-Gaines Age: 20 Sex: Male Height: 73” Weight: 217 lbs.
Name of Test Date of Test Test Score Interpretation of Confidence in
(body fat %) score accuracy of
test results
Skinfold 3/19/19 18% Fair, in the 40th Moderate: due
assessment percentile for my to the amount
age and gender of trials
needed I
would say the
measurements
might be a
little off
Bioelectrical 3/19/19 21% (standard) Standard – 30 th
High: the
Impedance 16% (athletic) percentile, poor correct
Analysis Athletic – 55 th
procedure was
(BIA) percentile, fair performed and
it’s a machine
Name of Test Date of Test Test Score Interpretation of Confidence in
(body fat %) score accuracy of
test results
Body Mass 3/19/19 31 Obese, high risk Moderate: I
Index for CVD think the
correct
procedure was
performed
however I do
not believe I
am obese
Skinfold 3/20/19 17% Fair, 50th Moderate:
assessment percentile there were a
few sites
where a third
trial was
needed, that
might have
affected the
accuracy
slightly
Bioelectrical 3/20/19 24% (standard) Standard – Poor, High: the
Impedance 19% (athletic) 20th percentile correct
Analysis Athletic – Fair, procedure was
(BIA) 40th percentile performed,
results come
from a
machine
Body Mass 3/20/19 30 Obese, high risk Moderate: the
Index for CVD correct
procedure was
performed,
however, I do
not believe I
am obese
III. Discussion:
The body fat percentages that I recorded for my clients through the skinfold tests
were consistent throughout. The highest percentage I got was 16% and the lowest
was 4%, making the range body fat percentage throughout 7 tests 8%. I would say
the skinfold test was the most accurate and consistent test I performed on my clients
throughout this module. The Tanita Scale recorded much higher values of body fat
percentage throughout the module. The highest percentage recorded was 28% and
the lowest was 15%, making the body fat percentage range throughout 7 tests 13%.
This test had a lot less consistency throughout all the tests I performed on my clients.
I also noticed a difference in the Tanita scale body fat percentage between the
standard body type test and the athletic body type test. There was usually about a 5-
6% difference between the two but there were some rare cases where the clients body
fat percentage did not change, or only changed by 1-2%. The differences between the
two body fat percentages of the Tanita scale is understandable because the athletic
body type assumes that the person consistently exercises at high intensities for at least
10 hours per week. With that said, the Tanita scale assumes that more of the clients’
body weight is muscle mass rather than fat. Another reason the body fat percentage
of the Tanita scale could be off is due to consumption of alcohol within 48 hours,
consumption of caffeine, or candy within 24 hours, exercising within 12 hours, eating
or drinking within 4 hours, or having a full bladder during the test. All of these are
factors that can cause the body fat percentage of a certain individual vary between
tests.
A skinfold test will be easier and more accurate if performed on a lean or
muscular client opposed to an obese client. This is due to the ability of the assessor to
pinch at the sites of the skinfold and measure the sites correctly with the calipers. It
will be easier to get more consistent and accurate readings with a client that has less
body fat in the areas needed than it would on a client with more. With that said the
most appropriate tests for an obese client would be a test such as the Tanita Scale.
This will be more comfortable and accurate for a client who is more obese because
they simply have to stand there on the scale and the machine does everything. The
scale will assess the clients body weight, and body fat percentage while taking into
account their height, hydration level, age and gender.
IV. Learning:
I noticed in my peers’ evaluations that I had a few small procedure errors when it
came to the waist circumference, height and weight measurements, and BIA on the
Tanita Scale. I was not consistent in making my clients take a deep breath for the
height measurement, therefore they might be slightly shorter than their tallest possible
height, during the waist circumference measurement from time to time I failed to
have the measuring tape perfectly horizontal along the thinnest part of the client’s
waist from their xiphoid process to their umbilicus, and for the BIA on the Tanita
Scale I was inconsistent on asking the patients about their hydration level, if they had
consumed alcohol (last 48 hrs.), caffeine (last 24 hrs.), or exercised (last 12 hrs.) prior
to testing. With that said those were all simple and easily fixed mistakes within my
testing procedures. However, not all was bad, my peer reviews on the skinfold
assessments were mostly all positive, I was given a few tips after my first test
performed on a client on not pinching the site more than once before measuring as
well as waiting a second longer to read the calipers. Overall the skinfold tests were
my favorite and most successful assessment. I appreciate all of my peers’ comments
and constructive criticism and it goes hand and hand with myself evaluation of my
testing procedures.
Testing non-exercise science students was very interesting. It was very enjoyable
being able to test different individuals and determine the amount (percentage) of fat
they have on their body, their risk for CVD, their BMI, and their ranking among their
sex and age for body fat percentage. I learned that the non-exercise science clients
were very interested in their results and what they meant, it felt good knowing what
the results meant and being able to explain to them to my clients. I tested all football
players, so they were happy to get an accurate measurement of their bodies and body
fat percentages.
