Question

Name and explain in short, the most commonly used method of indirectly estimating percent body fat in clinical settings? Write three advantages.

Answer 1

Body fat refers to the amount of fat deposited in the adipose tissues. Body fat percentage refers to the percentage of essential body fat and storage body fat that is necessary to maintain normal human life.

In clinical setting the fat percentage is calculated using Dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA). It also refers to bone densitometry. X ray is used to scan the entire body to determine body fat percentage and the bone mineral density.

DEXA scan helps to measure the density of bones at the bony prominences at the spine,hip,arm,forearm. Two types of DEXA scan are done namely : Central DEXA - that helps to measure density in the hip and spine. Peripheral DXA helps to evaluate the density of bone in finger,hand,foot. The results are interpreted using T Score to compare the bone density between the younger age group people with same gender with peak bone mass. Z score is to analyse the density of fat in relation to the other people of same age group.

Advantages:

- Dexa scan is more useful for the athletes to evaluate the fat percentage and bone density.

- The use of low radiation dose helps the less exposure of the individual

- It is easy to do regional analysis of whole body to determine the fat percentage estimation.