Lauren Ritenour

SER 311 01 Testing and Prescription Lab

Module 3

20 April 2021

Dr. Larouere
 B. Background

Body Composition is the amount of bone, water, and muscle in the body. We look at body

composition to see the distribution of body mass and the balance between fat and muscle. Body

composition gives us the opportunity to find out how healthy we are and look at our body’s own unique

makeup. Having a healthy body composition reduces the risk of heart disease and helps increase energy.

Body composition analysis can accurately show your body’s fat mass, muscle mass, and body fat

percentage. By analyzing your body composition, you can understand your body better. By knowing

your body composition, you are able to make more educated decisions that can help to change up your

lifestyle to have a healthier body.

There are many ways to find body composition, such as skin fold testing. Skin fold testing

involves pinching a layer of skin and measuring the thickness using a skinfold caliper. Using the skin

fold measurements, we are able to calculate body density, and body fat percent. Hydrostatic weighing is

underwater weighing that is used to calculate the total body fat by the density of the body. This is

considered the gold standard for body composition. You can also use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

which uses electrical currents to send signals through the body to measure the different types of tissue

deciphering between fat and muscle. Those are just a couple ways we can measure body composition.

C. Data
 Lauren Ritenour
Female
Age: 20

Test Height Weight Interpretation Confidence

Administrator (cm) (lbs) (reason for
And Date percentage is
in the
interpretation)
Derek- 3/30/21 163 131 Looking at this I would say this is a very 96%
accurate representation of my height and
weight. I ate lunch late that day so I was
pretty lean and not coming straight from a
big lunch like I was during the other tests. I
also believe that my height is pretty
accurate I am usually around 5’4” (162.6
cm).
Sam K- 4/6/21 164 135 I think this is pretty accurate because I have 92%
been consistently around 5’4” for a while
now. Also, my weight is usually anywhere
between 130-135. The fact that this was
taken after lunch explains why I am heavier
than my typical.
Tyler- 4/6/21 162 135 This is still pretty accurate weight wise 93%
considering this was right after I ate. I think
that my height is slightly off, but still close
enough to 5’4” (162.6 cm).
Tanner- 4/13/21 164 134 These measurements are pretty typical for 94%
me. When my weight was taken, I was
wearing a big heavy hoodie so that
definitely affected my weight.
Brett- 4/13/21 162.6 132.2 My height is probably the most accurate out 98%
of all of my recent tests because I am
usually always told that I am 5’4” even.
Also, I think that my weight is the most
accurate because when I stepped on the
scale, I was only wearing shorts and a sports
bra.

Test Administrator % BF % Body Interpretation Confidence

And Date from Fat from (reason for
 Tanita Skinfolds percentage is in the
interpretation)
Derek- 3/30/21 23% 17% I think that the % body fats for both are 97%
somewhat close. I am pretty confident in
these numbers. They are pretty much in
the middle of all the other percentages
taken from the other tests.
Sam K- 4/6/21 24% 22% I think both are fairly accurate because 93%%
they are so similar to each other. It
makes sense that my skin fold BF %
would be lower just because of the way
that I am built. The body fat percentage
taken from the skin folds also took me
down a fitness category (went from
good to fair).
Tyler- 4/6/21 25% 16% I think that when he took my skin folds, 92%
he didn’t pinch enough skin. My skin
folds should have been lower though
because I carry most of my fat in areas
that we do not take skin fold pinches.
This percentage also increased my
category of fitness. I went from good to
excellent. I went from good to excellent.
Tanner- 4/13/21 26% 18% The body fat from the Tanita scale is 93%
higher than most of the other tests. I do
not know how accurate that could be
because I had multiple Tanita scale BF
% taken that day, and the other BF% is
two percent lower.
Brett- 4/13/21 24% 13% My Tanita scale is still around what my 93%
other readings were. I also was lighter
than my weights that were taken
because I wasn’t wearing heavy
clothing. I think that Brett did not grab
enough when taking my skin folds
which is why my percentage is a lot
lower than my other numbers.
Emily- 4/13/21 - 5% I do not believe that Emily did a C- 40%
pinch properly. I think that she could
have grabbed more skin. The BF% that
she calculated was way lower than all of
the other body fat percentages that were
calculated for me.
Trinity- 4/13/21 - 17% Trinity was probably the best person 97%
when pinching my skin. She was very
gentle, but she got a good amount of
skin. Trinity also had a similar
calculated BF percent compared to the
other calculations. With this percent I
 am still in the same fitness category
(good) as most of my tests. This leads
me to believe this is pretty accurate.

Test BMI Body Avg. Waist Interpretation Confidence

Administrator Calculated Density Circumference (reason for
And Date Skinfolds (cm) percentage is in
the
interpretation)
Derek- 3/30/21 22.38 1.0594 67.75 I think that Derek had the 98%
most accurate waist
circumference, BMI, and
body density. This is because
he took the most accurate
height and weight for me. I
also think that he had good
placement with the waist
circumference measuring
tape.
Sam K- 4/6/21 22.8 1.048 68.5 I believe that I had an 98%
accurate BMI, waist
circumference, and body
density taken. All of the
measurements taken were
similar to all of the other
measurements taken.
Tyler- 4/6/21 23.2 1.061 70.5 The number that Tyler got for 95%
my waist circumference was a
little higher than the rest. This
leads me to think that maybe
he placed the tape measurer a
little high or too low. This
number placed me in a higher
risk category for diseases. His
other numbers are similar to
the other measurements.
Tanner- 22.6 1.058 66.75 The waist circumference that 95%
4/13/21 was measured is slightly
lower than the other
measurements. This leads me
to believe that it was not
placed correctly. The BMI
and body density are similar
to the other numbers taken
from other tests ran so those
are more accurate.
Test BMI Body Avg. Waist Interpretation Confidence
Administrator Calculated Density Circumference (reason for
 And Date Skinfolds (cm) percentage is in
the
interpretation)
Brett- 4/13/21 22.66 1.069 68 All of the measurements and 97%
calculations from this test are
within the range of all of the
other measurements and
calculations. The
measurement for my waist
circumference kept me in the
same risk category as all the
other waist measurements.
Emily- 4/13/21 - 1.087 - The body density calculated 92%
was very similar to the other
numbers. Which allows me to
believe it is pretty accurate.
However, I do not know how
she got this body density
considering she got a BF
percent of 5%.
Trinity- - 1.06 - The body density calculated 94%
4/13/21 was very similar to all the
other body densities
calculated.

I referenced tables 4.2 and 4.5 in the ACSM book.

D. Discussion of test results

Overall, I think that my body fat percentages from the Tanita scale and my skin fold testing are

pretty similar. I do see that my skin fold testing percentages are lower than the Tanita scale percentages.

This might be due to the fact that a lot of my body fat is not where the skin folds were taken. The way

my body is built I carry the majority of my fat in my glutes compared to my abdomen, upper body, and

legs. Another reason that they are different could be because the person taking my skin folds did not do

a proper C-pinch. If they did not pinch me properly, they could have not grabbed as much skin as they

should have to get an accurate measurement. This is why I believe that for me personally, the Tanita

scale is a more accurate measurement of my body fat percent.

Looking at my body fat percentages from the Tanita scale, they are all within 2% of each other. I

believe this is because the heights that were entered for me varied, and also my weight changed by
almost 3 pounds. I think between my height entered and my body weight being different that caused the

body fat percentages to be slightly off. Next, I noticed that there were big differences between the

numbers that were calculated to get my body fat percentage based off if the skin folds. The differences

in the numbers are probably caused by the administrator’s error. If the administrator didn’t do a proper C

pinch, put the caliper on correctly, or read the caliper correctly then that could lead to possible errors. If

my administrators did any of those things while administering the test, then that could lead to errors in

the body fat percentages that they calculated for me.

I think for an obese client the skin fold measurements would be the most appropriate

measurement of their body fat percentage because they have more skin to grab and measure. For the

very lean or muscular client, I believe that the Tanita scale would be more accurate. I believe this

because trying to take skin fold measurements on leaner clients was very difficult. They barely had

anything to pinch, so I do not believe I got very accurate measurements for them. If they were to step on

the Tanita scale, it would have a more accurate reading of their body fat percentage.

E. Learning

A lot of the comments from my peer observations said that I was very professional. I would have

to agree with these comments. Running these tests, I tried to be as professional as I could because I

understand that not everyone who I administered the tests on felt comfortable. I felt fairly confident in

my capabilities when administering the tests, so I am glad that I came off as professional to my

observers. Other comments stated that I gave clear explanations and made sure that the client understood

what I was going to do. This made me feel good because I remember when I was administering the tests,

I made sure to clarify exactly what I was going to do. I personally think I could have explained what the

purpose of this test was better, but other than that I think I did a good job at explaining the procedures.

With the waist circumference, the first observation that I received said that I struggled with keeping it

straight. After that first observation, all of my other comments on waist circumference said that I did a
good job. I am glad to see that I improved with taking the waist circumference properly. I personally

thought that I did struggle with waist circumference at first because it is so awkward with the tape

measurer, but I did eventually figure it out.

F. Appendices

1. Data sheets on which your test data were recorded during practice sessions.

2. Completed peer observation tracking form documenting peer observations as follows:

a. Skinfolds: seven forms; three of which are from different non-ES majors

b. BIA (3 males, 3 females) & anthropometric (2 male, 2 female) tests: six forms; three of

which are from different non-ES majors

3. A minimum of three of your observations of your peer’s work. Observations must be for at

least three different classmates