Assessing Anthropometric Status

Body composition is the way of describing the percentage of water, fat, bone and
muscle mass in the human body (Forbes, 2012). There are two main anthropometric
methods to measure body composition to get the clearest results, these are hydro
densitometry

which

is

being

weighed

underwater

and

air

displacement

plethysmography which is the BodPod, as in the title it uses air rather than water and
measures how much air is displaced while sitting inside the enclosed chamber. Both
measures rely on estimations of body volume (Heymsfield et al., 2005).
The downfalls to these two measures although they are the most accurate they are
also highly expensive and very time consuming which need a trained professional to
be able to run the tests accurately. These two tests can also be very invasive or even
cause claustrophobia as they require the subject to wear swimming speedos or
costume and a cap and fit into a confined space or be plunged under water.
Using Body Mass Index (BMI) to calculate whether or not a subject has a healthy
weight or not is one of the simplest forms to measure body composition. The method
for working out BMI are as follows, height in meters squared divided by body weight
in kg). Although this test is used by many and can calculate an average category of
weight, it doesnt take into account the amount of muscle a subject may have.
People can have far higher muscle mass and weigh equal to or more than someone
who looks clinically obese and still be classed in that category. Nonetheless,
Cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes are associated with a BMI of 30 and
above (Pescatello et al., 2014).
Following these methods, skin fold measurements using skinfold callipers, a special
calibrated metal pincer that painlessly measures skinfold thickness of specific sites is

another way of measuring body composition. Only professionals such as some Gps
and personal trainers who are qualified to use this equipment to get an accurate
reading. As well as needing training which is very costly, the professional skin
callipers themselves can also be hundreds of pounds. This way of measuring is not
the most precise because of the requirements needed for best results.
There are a wide variety of methods to measure body composition which all vary in
price, skill and accuracy. BMI measures are possibly the easiest measure to get an
average reading, this is just enough information needed to determine which weight
category a subject is in. Many sports centres can offer to take these measurements
using some forms of methods listed above and can sometimes be easily accessible
and in some cases come at slight cost. Nevertheless, it is important but not always
necessary to obtain these measurements as they can determine or notify the subject
of any underlying diseases.
Case Study
Profile of Client, Female of 19 years old at a height of 158cms and weight 52.35 kg
of a toned build. Height using a stadio meter and weight measured on scales (Seca
Medical Scales and Measuring Systems, Birmingham, UK) were taken prior to these
tests as this information was needed to get an accurate reading. Shoes had to be
removed and heavy clothing items when being weighed and measured to get the
clearest results. Comparison of the results from two different tests are to identify the
differences of measurements obtained from these pieces of equipment. First piece of
equipment used was a body composition machine (Tanita Multi-Frequency Body
Composition Analyser MC-180MA, Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The results of
this test showed the clients fat percentage to be 20.2%, Muscle mass 42.50 kg and
BMI of 21.0 and a BMR of 1305kcal.

Test 2 using a hand to hand body comp monitor (Omron Body Fat Monitor (hand to
hand BIA) BF 306, Omron Medizintechnik, Mannheim, Germany) provided fewer
results of 24.1% fat and a BMI of 21. The BMI results for both tests were the same
because it takes into account height and weight so there should be no difference
there as that information was inserted into the machine. Although the results showed
differently for fat percentage by at least 4%. The reason why this is so because the
Omron only measures the level of fat/muscle in the top half of the body, for female
subjects this can be an unfair test due to the access fat women store on the chest.
The Tetina machine measures a lower percentage, as this machine calculates these
measures using the whole body rather than just the top half as it. This test is more
reliable as it sends pulses throughout the body, it is easy to use and requires no
qualifications.
These calculations are being weighed against the National Body Mass Index (BMI)
chart to see if this client is classed as having a healthy body weight or not. The
Tanita scale machine even provides information if subject is overweight or not. From
these findings it concludes that this subject is in the healthy weight category and not
overweight for her height and shows no sign of concern.

References
Heymsfield, S.B., Lohman, T.G., Wang, Z. and Going, S.B. (2005) Human Body
Composition . (2nd ed.) Champaign: Human Kinetics.
Forbes, G. (2012) Human Body Composition: Growth, Aging, Nutrition, and Activity.
New York: Springer- Verlag.
NHS Choices (2013) BMI Height Weight Chart. [Online]
Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/height-weightchart.aspx [accessed 09 January 2016].
Pescatello, L.S., Arema, R., Riebe, D. and Thompson, P.D.(Eds.) (2014) ACSM's
Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. (9th ed.) Baltimore: Lipincott
Williams & Wilkins.
Wagner, D. R., Heyward, V. H., & Gibson, A. L. (2000). Validation of air displacement
plethysmography for assessing body composition. Medicine and science in sports
and exercise, 32(7), 1339-1344.