Glossary
Chapter 4

Air displacement	Technique to assess body composition by calculating the body volume from the air displaced by an individual sitting inside a small chamber.
Anthropometric techniques	Measurement of body girths at different sites.
Aquaphobic	Having a fear of water.
Bioelectrical impedance	Technique to assess body composition by running a weak electrical current through the body.
Bod Pod	Commercial name of the equipment used for the assessment of body composition through the air displacement technique.
Body composition	The fat and nonfat components of the human body; important in assessing recommended body weight.
Body mass index (BMI)	Ratio of weight to height used to determine thinness and fatness.
Girth measurements	Technique to assess body composition by measuring circumferences at specific body sites.
Hydrostatic weighing	Underwater technique to assess body composition; considered the most accurate of the body composition assessment techniques.
Lean body mass	Body weight without body fat.
Obesity	An excessive accumulation of body fat, usually at least 30 percent above recommended body weight.
Overweight	Excess weight according to a given standard, such as height or recommended percent body fat; less than obese.
Percent body fat	Proportional amount of fat in the body based on the person’s total weight; includes both essential and storage fat.
Recommended body weight	Body weight at which there seems to be no harm to human health; healthy weight.
Skinfold thickness	Technique to assess body composition by measuring a double thickness of skin at specific body sites.
Storage fat	Body fat in excess of essential fat; stored in adipose tissue
Underweight	Extremely low body weight.
Waist-to-hip ratio	A measurement to assess potential risk for disease based on distribution of body fat.

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