Methods of Measuring Body Composition

skinfold assessments

determine thickness of fat directly below the skin's surface, and then used in an equation to calculate

dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

different tissues absorb and reflect the x-rays from the exa machine to varying degrees, can determine total amounts of and where lean and fat mass are, combine with total body weight can determine total body fat %

anthropometric measurements

measure size and proportion of the human body and its various segments, different devices are used to measure BMI, disease possibilities, estimate body fatness, and mortality

densitometry

measures a body's density by finding the mass using a scale and finding the volume using either water submersion or air displacement plethysmography (spaceship thing) and using those to calculate density

bioelectrical impedance

send safe low- voltage level electrical current through the body, the speed that the current passes through can help determine lean and fat tissue and then use their height and weight to calculate the percent of body composition that is fat mass and fat-free mass