Understanding Your Body Composition
A guide to understanding your Body Composition Analysis, the information below will allow you compare your results to normal/average results and WHO guidelines: Body Fat % / Fat Mass
Fat % is the proportion of Fat Mass to the total body weight. Body Fat is essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair, body temperature and protecting internal organs. Yet, too much fat can damage your health. Reducing excess levels of body fat has shown to reduce the risk of certain conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Check your body fat results against the healthy body fat ranges shown on your report. Female Age Healthy Range 20 ­ 39 21% ­ 33% 40 ­ 59 23% ­ 34% Male Age Healthy Range 20 ­ 39 8 ­ 19% 40 ­ 59 11% ­ 21% Fat Free Mass (FFM)
Fat Free Mass is comprised of non-fat components of the human body. Muscle, bone and water are all
examples of fat-free mass.
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Muscle Mass
The predicted weight of muscle in your body. As you exercise more, your muscle mass increases, which in turn burns more calories. Check your muscle mass rating against the normal or average value on your report. Total Body Water % (TBW %)
Total Body Water Percentage (TBW%) is the total amount of fluid in the body expressed as a % of total weight. Being well hydrated will help concentration levels, sports performance and general well­being. The average TBW% ranges for a healthy adult are: Female: 45 to 60% Male: 50 to 65% Athletic Body Types: 5% higher than adult range Individuals with a high body fat % may fall below the recommended body water percentage. As body fat is reduced over time the TBW% should gradually improve. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index is a standardised ratio of weight to height, and is used as a general indicator of health. Your BMI can be calculated by dividing your weight (kg) by the square of your height (m2​
​
).
Body Mass Index (BMI) Classification <18.5 Underweight 18.5 – 24.9 Normal Weight 25­29.9 Overweight 30> Obese Note: BMI can be less accurate for assessing healthy weight in certain groups where there are variations in muscle and fat mass. South Asian, Chinese and Japanese population groups may have more body fat at lower weights and be at greater risk of ill­health than people from other population groups, so a lower BMI threshold (e.g. <23 kg/m2​
​
) may be considered. 2
Bone Mass
The predicted weight of bone mineral in your body. This measure is not intended as a substitute for more detailed assessments of bone density and/or osteoporosis. Visceral Fat Rating
Visceral fat is the fat in the abdominal area surrounding and protecting the vital organs. Ensuring you have a healthy level of visceral fat reduces the risk of certain conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Rating from 1 to 12: Indicates you have a healthy level of visceral fat. Monitor regularly to ensure your rating stays within this range. Rating from 13 to 59: ​
Indicates you have an excess level of visceral fat. Consider making changes in your lifestyle possibly through diet changes and/or increasing exercise​
. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Basal Metabolic Rate is the daily minimum level of energy or calories needed at rest for your body to function effectively. Increasing muscle mass will directly speed up the metabolic rate. A person with a high BMR can burn more calories at rest than a person with a low BMR. Metabolic Age
Metabolic age refers to a number calculated by comparing your ​
Basal Metabolic Rate to the Basal Metabolic Rate average of your chronological ​
age group​
. If your metabolic age is higher than your actual age then you need to improve your BMR by increasing exercise levels. Building muscle will burn more calories, even at rest!
Disclaimers: The above information is for reference only. It does not replace and should not be used in place of expert advice
from your own medical practitioners, Accredited Practising Dietitian, and/or exercise physiologist/physiotherapist. For further
details about the body composition analysis, please visit the official website of Tanita®​ Australia at
http://www.tanitaaustralia.com​
.
©2016 DietitianChong. All Right Reserved.
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