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Measuring body fat.
- Article from:
- Clinical Reference Systems
- Article date:
- January 1, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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What is body fat?
Your total body weight is made up of lean weight and fat weight, or body fat. Lean weight includes the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and water in the body. Body fat includes the fat stored in the fat cells and the organs of the body.
For good health, it is important to have a high proportion of lean weight compared to fat weight. The muscle part of lean weight produces work and burns food calories. When there is too much body fat, it acts as excess baggage for the body and can be a detriment to your health. People with a higher fat content, especially around the waist, are at a higher risk of heart disease.
How much body ...