Body Composition
Expert-defined terms from the Advanced Certificate in Nutritional Anthropometry course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
**Anthropometry #
** The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. In the context of nutrition and health, anthropometry is used to assess body composition and health status.
**Body Composition #
** The proportion of fat and fat-free mass in the body. Body composition is an important indicator of health and fitness.
**Body Mass Index (BMI) #
** A measure of body fat based on height and weight. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal weight, 25-29.9 overweight, and 30 or above obese.
**Fat #
Free Mass:** The portion of the body that is not fat, including muscle, bone, and organs.
**Fat Mass #
** The amount of fat in the body.
**Field Methods #
** Techniques for assessing body composition and health status that can be performed in a variety of settings, such as community centers or schools.
**Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) #
** A measure of lung function that assesses the amount of air that can be exhaled in one second.
**Framingham Heart Study #
** A long-term study of cardiovascular disease that has contributed to the development of many risk assessment tools.
**Health Assessment #
** The process of evaluating an individual's overall health status, including physical, mental, and social well-being.
**Health Status Indicator #
** A measure of an individual's health, such as blood pressure or cholesterol level.
**Hydration Status #
** The level of water in the body.
**Metabolic Equivalent (MET) #
** A measure of the energy cost of physical activity. One MET is equivalent to the energy cost of resting.
**Mid #
Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC):** A measure of arm size that can be used to assess nutritional status.
**Nutritional Anthropometry #
** The use of anthropometric measurements to assess nutritional status and health.
**Obesity #
** A condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat.
**Overweight #
** A condition in which a person's weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height.
**Percent Body Fat #
** The proportion of fat in the body, expressed as a percentage of total body weight.
**Physical Activity Level (PAL) #
** A measure of the total energy expenditure of an individual, including both resting metabolic rate and the energy cost of physical activity.
**Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) #
** The amount of energy expended by the body at rest.
**Skinfold Measurements #
** A method for estimating body fat by measuring the thickness of skinfolds at specific sites on the body.
**Waist Circumference #
** A measure of abdominal fat that can be used to assess health risk.
**Waist #
to-Hip Ratio (WHR):** A measure of body shape that compares the size of the waist to the size of the hips.
**Wellness #
** A state of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being.
**Yale University's Fat and Circulation (FAC) Study #
** A study that examined the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease. The study found that obesity is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Sources: #
Sources:
1. World Health Organization. (2000). Obesity #
Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation on obesity. Geneva: World Health Organization.
2 #
Lohman, T. G., Roche, A. F., & Martorell, R. (1988). Anthropometry of body composition: Standardization and techniques. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
3. Prentice, A. M., & Jebb, S. A. (2001). Obesity in Britain #
Gluttony or sloth?. BMJ, 322(7287), 791-794.
4 #
World Health Organization. (2003). Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of the Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. Geneva: World Health Organization.
5 #
World Health Organization. (2008). Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
6 #
World Health Organization. (2011). Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
7 #
World Health Organization. (2013). Action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020. Geneva: World Health Organization.
8 #
World Health Organization. (2018). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Fact sheet. Geneva: World Health Organization.
9 #
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from
10 #
National Institutes of Health. (2020). Overweight and obesity statistics. Retrieved from