Katie Koziarz

SER 311 01 Testing & Exercise Prescription Lab

Module 3: Body Composition

March 3, 2022
Background

Body composition describes the different elements that make up the human body. For this

lab we focused on the human body made up of muscle, bone, essential fat and non-essential fat.

Muscle and bone are needed to provide the body with movement and support or structure.

Essential fat is fat that is needed for everyday life. This is the good fat in the body which is used

for metabolism and as an energy source. Non-essential fat does not have a use in the body. This

is the fat people think of when an individual starts gaining weight. There are different ways to

measure body composition. One method is performed by measuring the client’s height and

weight to determine a body mass index (BMI). Combined with measuring a client's waist

circumference, these measurements can be used to determine the relative risk of disease

associated with excess body fat. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is also used to calculate

body composition. This test uses electrical impulses to measure the body composition of the

client. Body fat, muscle mass, and ideal body weight are all values this test gives. The final test

used in this module that can be used to determine body composition is skin fold measurements. 7

predetermined sites are used to test the amount of body fat at each site. Using 2 equations, body

fat percentage can be calculated.

Body composition is important to assess. Through body composition testing, health

related conditions can be discovered and monitored. Body composition testing allows clinicians

and clients to help limit chronic health conditions. It has been found that an increase in excess

body fat can lead to multiple chronic health conditions. Through body composition testing, an

individual can be made aware of body composition concerns before a chronic health condition

arises. Body composition testing can also help determine body composition changes during

aging. As individuals age, their body compositions change. Most older individuals hold on to
more excess fat than those younger in age. A specific example of body composition changing is

the development of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is muscle loss associated with aging. Body

composition testing can monitor changes in muscle mass which can help screen for sarcopenia or

help monitor sarcopenia. Body composition can also provide valuable information on ideal body

weight. Every individual has a specific ideal body weight based on their height and weight

needed for their body to function properly. Body composition testing can allow an individual to

become informed on their ideal body weight. With this information, the individual can make

lifestyle changes to better meet their ideal body weight goals. The last reason body composition

is important to test is related to athletics. Depending on the sport that the athlete is performing

determines their ideal body composition. Gymnasts and sprinters want less body fat percentages

to allow them to sprint faster and perform various gymnastic skills. Having less body mass

allows for a better performance in these specific sports. Offensive linemen on the other hand

need more mass in order to perform well in their position. Body composition can be used with

offensive linemen to look at what percentage of their body mass is fat versus muscle. Although

offensive linemen are notoriously known for being bigger athletes, body composition can be

used to evaluate the percentages of fat and muscle to enhance the athlete's performance. More

muscle would allow the athlete to be more explosive which in turn could give them an advantage

on the field.
Data

Module 3 Test Results and Interpretation

Name: Katie Koziarz Age: 21 Sex: Female Height: 68” Weight: 170 lbs
Current aerobic exercise: strength training 3x a week for an hour at heart rate around 150
bpm; volleyball practice 2 times/wk for 2 hours each practice at HR of about 120-150 bpm.
Approximate VO2 max 30mL/kg/min.
Name of test Date Test score Interpretation of Confidence in results
score

Body 3/15 BMI: 26.1 BMI and waist I am confident in these

composition (kg · m−2) circumference: results due to the
overweight and at administrator performing
Waist an increased the tests correctly.
circumference: disease risk
76.5cm (Table 3.1)
(table 3.2)
BIA: 35% BIA: obese

Body 3/22 BMI: 26 BMI and waist I am confident in these

composition (kg · m−2) circumference: results as they are similar
overweight and to another student running
Waist low risk of disease the tests.
circumference: (Table 3.1)
76.25cm (table 3.2)
BIA: obese
BIA:35%

Body 3/22 BMI: 26 BMI and waist I am confident in these

composition (kg · m−2) circumference: results because the
overweight and administrator followed the
Waist low risk of disease correct protocol when
circumference: (Table 3.1) running the tests.
75.75cm (table 3.2)

BIA: 35%

Body 3/22 BMI: 25.5 BMI and waist My BMI is slightly

composition (kg · m−2) circumference: different from the other
overweight and tests I had run but this
Waist increased risk of could have been due to a
circumference: disease weight or height
75.75 cm (Table 3.1) fluctuation.
(table 3.2)
BIA: 35% BIA: obese
Name of test Date Test score Interpretation of Confidence in results
score

Body 3/29 BMI: 25.6 BMI and waist My BMI was different
composition (kg · m−2) circumference: from the other test I had
overweight and run but it looks like my
Waist low-high disease height was different from
circumference: risk the other test.
77 cm (Table 3.1)
(table 3.2)
BIA: 35% BIA: obese

Name of test Date Test score Interpretation of Confidence in results

score
(table 3.5)

Skin fold 3/22 31% 15th percentile Not confident in the results
Very poor due to the skinfold sites
not being pinched
correctly.

Skin fold 3/22 27% 25th percentile Somewhat confident in the

poor results. The administrator
was not confident while
performing the test but the
test score is within range
of my other tests scores.

Skin fold 3/22 24% 35th percentile Confident in my results.

Poor The administrator seemed
very confident performing
skin folds and correctly
identified sites.

Skin folds 3/29 20% 60th percentile Very confident. Administer

good only needed to retest a few
sites as she got the same
number for 2 trials in a
row.
 Name of test Date Test score Interpretation of Confidence in results
score
(table 3.5)

Skin folds 3/29 31% 15th percentile I am somewhat confident

Very poor in these results. Administer
struggled to get a good
pinch in some sites which I
believed to be a bigger
skin fold.

Skin fold 4/1 19% 65th percentile Although this data is

Good significantly smaller than
other tests, I believe that
the administrator identified
the correct sites and
pinched correctly making
accurate data.

American College of Sports Medicine. (2017). ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and
Prescription (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer

Discussion of Test Results

I had multiple tests performed on me to determine my body fat percentage. When

comparing the percentages, I found there were some differences. The biggest differences were

found when looking at the BIA tests and skin folds. Most of my BIA test results were around

35% body fat while my fat percentage from the skin fold tests were around 20-30%. This is a

significant difference. A factor that could have affected the results on the BIA scale was my

hydration status. On some of the days that I was tested I was dehydrated. Since the BIA scale

uses electrical signals to determine the different composition in the body, this could have skewed

my results. Another factor that could have affected my BIA results was the timing of the tests in

relation to my menstrual cycle. The change in hormones during a menstrual cycle can affect

hydration levels which affect the results of a BIA test. Compared to the BIA test, my skinfold

results were significantly smaller body fat percentage values. This could have been due to errors
in technique when performing the tests or storing fat in other areas outside of the 7 skinfold sites.

I personally believe that I hold my fat in other areas not tested in the 7 skinfold sites. Due to this,

my results for the skin fold test show I have less fat. The BIA scale can scan the whole body,

rather than just certain sites on the body. This could explain the differences in results.

The best tests to perform on an obese client to determine body fat values would be wiast

circumference. Waist circumference measurements would be a better measurement of visceral

adiposity which is a characteristic in obese individuals. For a very lean and muscular client, I

would use the BIA scale or skin folds. The BIA scale would allow me to look at the individual's

overall body composition while also being able to tell how much muscle and fat the individual

has. The skin folds testing is not accurate with extremely lean individuals but if this client is lean

and muscular skin folds can be used to determine body fat values.

Learning

Having a peer observation allowed me to recognize mistakes in the procedure I was

unknowingly making. My peers found that I was forgetting to ask the clients their hydration

status. After reading through the observation sheets and realizing that I was leaving out this

important step, I made sure to include this question in my following tests. My peers also found

that I had some trouble identifying the correct sites. I also found this to be the case. I was

marking the side of the tricep rather than on the back of the arm. I found that I needed to make

sure the client had their arm in a position for me to properly mark their triceps. I had difficulty in

pinching the correct sites when the clients had little fat in the area. As stated on my observation

sheet, when I had trouble “c” pinching due to the lack of fat, my pinches turned into “v” pinches.

After learning that I was performing the pinches wrong, I focused on starting wider to pinch

correctly. The last thing that I found on my observation sheet that I was unaware of was holding
my pinches too long. I think in the future, I need to be confident in my pinches and use the

calipers right away in order to prevent misreading caused by holding the pinches too long.

Testing outside clients allowed me to better my skills. I was able to bring in a few friends

while also testing people I was unfamiliar with. I found that it was easier to test my friends as

they were already comfortable around me. The clients I did not know allowed me to practice

making the client comfortable and really explaining every step before I would do it. The outside

clients also allowed me to test different body types. I tested 2 offensive linemen and I found that

some of their skin fold sites were harder to measure. I struggled with measuring one client's

suprailiac skinfold due to the fat on the client fold rolling just above the site. This left me with

very little fat to work with at the site. Overall, I feel like testing outside clients allowed us to test

different body types which allowed us practice that would have not been given from just our

classmates.