Body Composition Overview 🩷

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to body composition, including definitions of various terms, health implications, and methods of assessment.

Body Composition

The human body is divided into fat-free mass and body fat.

Fat-Free Mass

Includes all the body’s nonfat tissues: bone, water, muscle, connective tissue, organ tissues, and teeth.

Essential Fat

Fat incorporated in various tissues of the body that is critical for normal body functioning.

Adipose Tissue

Tissue in which fat is stored; consists of fat cells.

Subcutaneous Fat

Fat located under the skin.

Visceral Fat

Fat located around major organs; also called intra-abdominal fat.

Overweight

Body weight above the recommended range for good health.

Obesity

Severely overweight, characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure of the proportion of weight to height.

Prevalence of Obesity

Increased from 13% in 1960 to 42.4% in 2018 in American adults.

Metabolic Syndrome

A cluster of symptoms that greatly increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

Insulin Resistance

A condition in which body cells do not respond normally to insulin.

Chronic Inflammation

A response of blood vessels to harmful substances that can lead to various diseases.

Fatty Liver Disease

Increased fat storage in the liver that can lead to liver inflammation and failure.

Apple Shape

Fat distribution in men and postmenopausal women characterized by fat storage in the upper regions of the body.

Female Athlete Triad

A condition consisting of abnormal eating patterns, lack of menstrual periods, and decreased bone density.

Estimating Percent Body Fat

Methods include underwater weighing, The Bod Pod, skinfold measurements, and bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Somatotype

Describes basic body build; includes endomorphs, mesomorphs, and ectomorphs.

Body Composition Goals

Setting realistic goals for fat loss based on individual assessments.

Making Changes in Body Composition

Focus on lifestyle, regular physical activity, and adequate protein intake.