Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by AJ Beddow, Exercise Physiologist at OhioHealth and Strive to Thrive personal trainer.
The weight you read on the scale can be misleading. While total body weight can be a great starting point for judging our overall health, it’s not a definitive marker. Knowing what your total weight is made of and in what proportions sheds a clearer light on your health. The amount of water, muscle mass, bone mass, and fat mass are important values to know and can help in deciding what changes, if any, are needed for an exercise and diet plan. Â
Here is why body composition is important:
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While body weight tells how much we weigh, body composition tells us specifically how much water, muscle, and fat we have.
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While BMI can be a useful tool for some, body fat percentage can be a more accurate measurement of our health. For example, individuals who engage in a vigorous strength training program will often be categorized as overweight according to their BMI due to the increased muscle mass. However, having increased muscle mass is a good thing, and these individuals will often times have a healthy body fat percentage. Â
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Body composition can also help guide a fitness program and any changes that may be needed. For example, if an individual has a normal body fat percentage and a low percentage of muscle mass, then we know that individual should begin or increase their strength training regimen.Â
Ways to test body composition:
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There are multiple ways to test body fat percentage: skin fold, hydrostatic weighing, BodPod, Dexa scan, and bioelectrical impedance.
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At the Ontario Health and Fitness Center, we have the ability to measure your body fat, body water, and lean body mass distribution using the InBody.
Are you interested in learning what you are made of? If so, contact the OhioHealth Ontario Health and Fitness Center at (419) 526-8900.
The winner of the Strive to Thrive competition will receive a year-long membership to the Ontario Health & Fitness Center. However, contestants will receive weekly prizes for filling out their activity log and attending personal training sessions.Â
Thanks to OhioHealth for donating coffee/tea thermos’ as this week’s prize incentive for contestants.Â
