What is the best way to measure your body composition and/or health?
I have written recently about how I am not a big fan of the scales. So what do I recommend?
You could take your BMI, get some skinfolds done, or take your waist circumference. All valid, good methods.
But if all you are interested in is health and fitness, I would be more inclined to measure your fitness specifically (physical test), and measure your body composition with the mirror test.
To take the mirror test do the following: Strip down to your underwear. Relax (don’t suck anything in) and take a look in a full length mirror – front and back – and see what you think. Now to get slightly controversial I could say get someone to take a photo. I have never done this, but it certainly would be more objective, and would give you something to compare to in the future.
My intention in giving you this advice is to provide you with a simple, easy, cheap method of measuring your body composition. I also think it is a much better way to measure than the scales. It is not to create insecurities, disorders or arguments that go along the line: “does my butt look big in this?”. Use this advice with caution!
Do this test at most once a month. Of course it is hugely limited in its application – primarily because your perception may not quite be right. If you are male and want something to compare to check this out.
If you are after a totally objective, ‘gold standard’ body composition assessment then get a dexa scan done. You may struggle however. Some radiology departments in the area I live use their equipment solely for bone mineral density analysis.
August 14, 2010 at 2:56 pm |
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