Male (r) Female (r)

Small > 10.4 > 11 It can be described at 5 levels:

Medium 9.6 – 10.4 10.1 – • Atomic –C, H, O, N

11.0
• Molecular – protein,
Large < 9.6 < 10.1 carbohydrates, lipids
• Cellular – fat cells, body fluids,
extracellular solids
 Based on the computed r, the person
has a large frame • Tissue- skeletal muscles, bone
blood
5. Add 10% to the IBW
• Whole body- body mass, stature,
IBW for large Frame = 115lbs+ [(10%) size, volume, density
(115lbs)]
Methods that are used to determine
=115lbs+ 11.5lbs body composition:
=126.5 lbs 1) Skinfold Calipers. One of the
anthropometric methods used for
INFANTS
measuring body fat is the skinfold
 0-6 months test. ...
IBW= birth weight in (g) + [(age in mos.) 2) Hydrostatic Weighing. Underwater
(600)] weighing calculates the total body
fat by the density of the body. ...
 7-12 months
3) Air Displacement Plethysmography.
IBW= birth weight in (g)+ [(age in mos.)
(500)] 4. Fat -fold or Skin – fold Thickness
Skinfold measurements are generally
CHILDREN taken at specific sites on the right side
1-12 y/o of the body. The tester pinches the
skin at the location site and pulls the
IBW= (age in years +8) fold of skin away from the underlying
muscle so only the skin and fat tissue
3. BODY COMPOSITION are being held. Special skinfold
calipers are then used to measure the
skinfold thickness in millimeters.
The measurement sites vary depending
upon the specific skinfold testing protocol
being used, but typically include the
following seven locations on the body:
1. Triceps - The back of the upper
arm
2. Pectoral - The mid-chest, just
forward of the armpit
3. Subscapular - Beneath the edge of
the shoulder blade
Body Composition describes the relative 4. Midaxilla - Midline of the side of
proportions of fat, bone and muscles mass the torso
in the human body.
5. Abdomen - Next to the belly button
 6. Suprailiac - Just above the iliac
crest of the hip bone
7. Quadriceps - Middle of the upper
thigh
Body fat percentage ranges

Age 20–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60+

Male 7–17% 12–21% 14–23% 16–24% 17–25%

Female 16–24% 17–25% 19–28% 22–31% 22–33%

Falling within these ranges is considered

“ideal.”
5. Mid -arm circumference (MAC)
Locate the midpoint of the arm:
• Non- dominant arm elbow flexed at 90
degrees with palm facing upwards.
• Measurer stands behind the subject &
locates the lateral tip of the acromion
and the most distal point on the
olecranon process.
• Place a tape measure so that it passes
between these 2 landmarks and mark
Equipment Required the midpoint.

 Skinfold calipers Measure the midarm circumference

 Flexible tape measure
To calculate body fat percentage, add
your waist and hip measurements, and
then subtract the neck measurement to
determine your circumference value.
Example:
if your waist is 30, your hips are 36, and
your neck is 13, your circumference value
would be 53.
Body fat % = W + H –N
30+36=66 -13 =53
• The subject stands erect with arms
hanging freely at the sides and the
palms facing the thighs.
• Place the tape measure perpendicular
to the long axis of the arm of the
marked midpoint & measure the
circumference to the nearest mm (e.g.
18.1 cm)
• Provide the actual MAC in cm.
Mid – Upper Arm Circumference
• During 1-5 yrs of age it remains
reasonably static between 15-17 cms
among healthy children.
• It is conventionally measured over the
left upper arm, at a point marked
midway between acromion ( shoulder)
and olecranon ( elbow) with arm bent
at right angle.
• The child is asked to stand or sit with
the arm hanging loose at the side.
• MUAC is measured with a fiber glass
or steel tape.
• If it is less than 12.5 cm it is
suggestive of severe malnutrition.
• If it is between 12.5 -13.5 it is
indicative of moderate malnutrition.
Steps in measuring the mid arm
circumference
1. Instruct the child to relax their left arm
at their side.
2. Wrap the color-coded tape measure
around the child's left arm.
3. Loop the tape around their arm,
running the small tail end through
the hole.
4. Pull the tape snug against the
child’s arm.
5. 5. Record the value that shows in
the window between the 2 arrows.
For older individual
1. Position the person's left arm at a 90-
degree angle
2. Measure from their shoulder to their
elbow to find the midpoint.
3. Measure their relaxed arm at the place
where you made the marking.
4. Write down the measurement to the
nearest millimeter.
Determine the frame size of the person
using the wrist circumference