Obesity (Weight Loss) (cont.)
What are other factors associated with obesity?
- Ethnicity. Ethnicity factors may influence the age of onset and the rapidity of
weight gain. African American women and Hispanic women tend to experience weight
gain earlier in life than Caucasians and Asians. Hispanic men tend to develop
obesity earlier than African American and Caucasian men.
- Childhood weight. A person's weight during childhood, the teenage years, and
early adulthood may also influence the development of adult obesity. For
example:
- Being mildly overweight in the early 20's was linked to a substantial incidence of obesity by age 35.
- Being overweight during older childhood is highly predictive of adult obesity, especially if a parent is also obese.
- Being overweight during the teenage years is even a greater predictor of adult obesity.
- Hormones. Women tend to gain weight especially during certain events such
as pregnancy, menopause, and in some cases with the use of
oral contraceptives.
However, with the availability of the newer low dose estrogen pills, weight gain
has not been as great a risk.
How is body fat measured?Measuring a person's body fat percentage is not easy, and
is often inaccurate
if the methods are not monitored carefully. The following methods require
special equipment, trained personnel, can be costly, and some are only available
in certain research facilities:
- Underwater weighing (hydrostatic weighing): This method weighs a person
underwater and then calculates lean body mass (muscle) and body fat. This method
is one of the most accurate ones; however, it is generally done in special
research facilities, and the equipment is costly.
- BOD POD: The BOD POD is a computerized, egg-shaped chamber. Using the same
whole-body measurement principle as hydrostatic weighing, the BOD POD measures a
subject's mass and volume, from which their whole-body density is determined.
Using this data, body fat and lean muscle mass can then be calculated.
- DEXA: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is used to measure bone
density. It uses X-rays to determine not only the percentage of body fat, but
also where, and how much fat is located in the body.
The following two methods are simple and straightforward:
- Skin calipers: This method measures the skinfold thickness of the layer of
fat just under the skin in several parts of the body with calipers (a metal tool
similar to forceps); the results are then used to calculate the percentage of body
fat.
- Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA): This is another seemingly simple method.
There are two methods of the BIA. One involves standing on a special scale with
footpads. A harmless amount of electrical current is sent through the body, and
then percentage of body fat is calculated. The other type of BIA, involves
electrodes that are typically placed on a wrist and an ankle, and on the back of
the right hand and on the top of the foot. The change in voltage between the electrodes
is measured. The person's body fat percentage is then calculated from the
results of the BIA.
Health clubs and weight loss centers often use the skin caliper or
bioelectric impedance analysis method; however, these can yield inaccurate
results if an inexperienced person performs them or they are used on someone
with significant obesity.
Next: What about weight-for-height tables? »
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