Body Composition Basics

Body composition describes the percentages of fat,one and muscle in your body.These percentages provide an overall view of your health and fitness in relation to your weight, health, and age.

Weight and fat are often used together, but they are not interchangeable. Being overweight does not imply obesity - in fact, many physically fit people are overweight due to muscle gain. However, being "overfat" poses health risks ranging from heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

On the other hand, avoid being "underfat." Body fat does have some benefits, not the least of which is energy storage and maintaining body temperature. Being overweight or underweight are characteristics depending on many factors: you are genetically overweight if you have a family history of overweight parents/relatives.

Also, the nervous system plays an important role in balancing the body weight: serotonin and endorphins send signals to the brain that induce the need to eat or on the contrary.

The application includes a free BMI Calculator.