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The Exercise Physiology Laboratory
The Exercise Physiology Laboratory, located in Memorial Hall, offers testing in several areas related to physical fitness.
What is Body Composition?
Body Composition is a measured percentage of lean tissue of the body versus the amount adipose or fat tissue of the body. Measured body fat is a more accurate reflection of one's health compared to weight measured from a typical scale. It has been proved that the body composition is directly proportional to a person's health. As the percentage of body fat increases, a person’s health decreases. According to the National Institute of Health, an excess of stored body fat had been associated with numerous health risks. Obesity has been linked to increase risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and other medical problems.
Fat and Your Body
Problems arise when a person has too little or too much body fat. It is the correct combination of percent fat and percent lean tissue that must be achieved for optimal health. There is a minimal amount of body fat that is vital for the safety and well-being of a person. Body fat serves as a preventative mechanism to cushion and protect internal organs from injury. Body fat is also essential in releasing energy and utilizing certain vitamins.
Body Weight vs. Body Fat
Measuring body fat percentage is a more appropriate means of assessing an individual’s level of fitness in comparison to weight alone. For example, a person who weighs only 130 pounds could have a body composition of 25% fat, whereas a body builder who weighs 250 pounds could have a body composition of 8% fat. Who would you consider to be healthier? Actually, the 250-pound person with a 8% body fat is considered to be more fit, because their body is comprised of more lean tissue and less adipose tissue.
When evaluating a person's fitness or progress of exercise, recording body fat percentage is a more precise method of measuring improvement. This method allows a person to see their true fat loss, not just weight loss.
Measuring Body Fat
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