* Lean body mass (LBM): This includes muscle, bone, and water.
* Body fat: This includes essential fat (necessary for organ function) and storage fat.
In simpler terms, body composition tells you how much of your body weight is made up of muscle, bone, water, and fat.
Here are some important points to remember about body composition:
* It's more than just weight: While body weight is important, body composition gives a more detailed picture of your health and fitness.
* It's a measure of health: A healthy body composition has a higher percentage of LBM and a lower percentage of body fat.
* It can be improved: Through exercise, diet, and other lifestyle changes, you can improve your body composition.
Here are some common methods used to measure body composition:
* Skinfold calipers: This method measures the thickness of skin folds at specific body locations.
* Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA): This method uses a weak electrical current to estimate body fat percentage.
* Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA): This method uses X-rays to measure bone density and body composition.
* Hydrostatic weighing: This method involves submerging the person in water and measuring their volume.
Knowing your body composition can help you track your progress towards fitness goals, manage weight, and assess your overall health.