| Body Mass Index, also known as BMI has always | | | | muscle and fat, then how do we know whether |
| been considered as the standard for indicating | | | | one has too much body fat or muscle mass? A |
| how much body fat in the body. However, | | | | more accurate measurement is to look at body |
| according to recent research, it might not be as | | | | composition instead. The body composition is |
| accurate as originally thought. | | | | made up of total body water percentage, body |
| A research team from Michigan State University | | | | fat, bone mass and muscle fat. |
| and Saginaw Valley State University measured | | | | Such measurement can be done using skin fold |
| the BMI of more than 400 college students, | | | | measurement, bioelectrical impedance, |
| where some of them were athletes and some | | | | photometry and water weighing. Most of the |
| not. It was found that in most cases the | | | | above mentioned required specialize equipment or |
| student's BMI did not accurately reflect his or her | | | | skilled personnel to do the measurement, which |
| percentage of body fat. | | | | often is not easily available for normal users for |
| The research is published in the March issue of | | | | measurement. |
| Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the | | | | However, there are now body compositions |
| official journal of the American College of Sports | | | | monitor available in the market for home users, |
| Medicine. | | | | which uses bio-electrical impedance which can |
| BMI is determined using the equation of the | | | | quite accurately measure the bone mass, muscle |
| weight divided by the square of the height. An | | | | mass, body water percentage and body fat |
| ACSM guideline for BMI is less than 25 for | | | | percentage. |
| everyone over the age of 20. For Health | | | | How the body composition monitor works is like |
| Promotion Board guidelines (2005), recommended | | | | this, it passes safe, low-level electrical signals |
| healthy range is 17.9. Generally, a person with BMI | | | | through the body via the footpad of the monitor |
| higher than 25 is considered as overweight and if | | | | platform, where it is easy for the signal to flow |
| BMI exceeds 30, he or she is considered to be | | | | through fluids in the muscles and other body |
| obese. A person with higher BMI is often | | | | tissues but meets resistance as it passes through |
| associated with higher risk of heart disease, | | | | body fat, since it contains little fluid. This |
| diabetes and other weight related problem. | | | | resistance is called impedance and the impedance |
| The main issue for using BMI is that regardless of | | | | readings are then entered into medically |
| gender and age, the same criteria is used to | | | | researched mathematical formulas to calculate the |
| determine whether one is normal, overweight or | | | | body composition. From these reading, we can |
| obese. However, BMI should be used carefully | | | | then better analyze whether one is having too |
| when determining whether one is obese or not, | | | | much or too little body fat. |
| especially when classifying different categories of | | | | According to ACSM guidelines, for female 15 to 25 |
| people. | | | | percent of body fat is considered optimal, 25 to |
| BMI does not really accurately tell how much fat | | | | 30 percent is considered fair and 30 percent and |
| a person really has; this is due to the nature that | | | | above is considered obese. For male, 10 to 20 |
| it cannot really differentiate between body fat | | | | percent body fat is considered optimal, 20 to 25 |
| and muscle mass. This is especially true when BMI | | | | percent is considered fair and 25 percent and |
| were used to measure athletes, a large | | | | above is considered obese. |
| percentage of them were often considered to be | | | | In conclusion, BMI can be used as a quick |
| obese, where in actual fact they are not. Many | | | | reference or guideline to see which range one |
| athletes tend to have high BMI due to muscle | | | | belongs. However, one has to take into |
| mass being built up and not due to body fat. | | | | consideration their physical activities level as well |
| Taking for instance, two people with the same | | | | as their body type. A more accurate |
| height and same weight, where one is an elite | | | | measurement is still to look at the body |
| athlete who do a lot of strength training with large | | | | compositions. With constant self-monitoring of |
| muscle mass and the other who hardly exercise. | | | | body composition, one can better understand their |
| Both will have the same BMI, based on the | | | | own physical conditions and also to adjust their |
| equation alone and both will be considered as | | | | diet, training intensity and frequency accordingly. It |
| falling into the same category, but we know that | | | | also serves as a motivational tool for monitoring |
| the elite athlete is definitely not obese. | | | | progress in their training. |
| If BMI cannot accurately differentiate between | | | | |