Millions of people across the country struggle with losing weight. While proper dieting and consistent exercise are keys to leading a healthy life, they may not always be successful in helping to slim down. Rather than focusing on the idea of weight loss, discovering an ideal body composition may serve better results in your journey to achieving the perfect you. Enhanced Wellness Living in Ridgeland, Mississippi offers classes which focus on body composition– fat loss and muscle gain– rather than strictly weight loss. Contact us today to see how our class can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
What Is Body Composition?
Body composition is the ratio of fat to fat-free mass in the body. Fat mass includes fat stored in muscles, subcutaneous (under the skin) fat and visceral fat surrounding the organs. Fat-free mass comprises the rest of your mass, including water, bones and lean tissue.
How To Measure Body Composition
There are several ways of measuring body composition including:
- Bioelectrical Impedance
- Skinfold Measurements
Bioelectrical Impedance
Bioelectrical Impedance can be measured by using handheld devices or a special scale. These tools send gentle electrical currents through your body and calculate body fat, water, and lean tissue.
Skinfold Measurements
Skinfold measurements use calipers to measure your skin and then estimate your body fat percentage. This is a simple, ten-minute test that gives you the exact breakdown of bone density, fat content, and lean muscle. It even identifies dangerous visceral fat and helps you track your progress by letting you know if water, fat, bone or muscle loss causes your weight loss.
Why Measure Body Composition?
It’s important to measure body composition because it is an excellent indicator of optimal health. Significant muscle loss is one downside associated with fad diets, resulting in a lower metabolism. This makes your lower weight difficult to maintain. It is important to ensure you are maintaining or increasing muscle mass and bone density throughout your weight loss journey.
If you would like to learn more about body composition, contact Enhanced Wellness Living in Ridgeland, Mississippi today! We look forward to hearing from you!
