Q and A: What is Body Composition?

Body composition refers to the amount of fat, muscle, bone, and water in our bodies. Fat mass (FM), tends to be measured the most often, since it can be helpful in judging health. According to According to The American Council on Exercise, acceptable body fat percentages are 25-31% for women, and 18-25% for men. For athletes, the range is 14-20% for women and 6-13% for men.

There are two types of fat: subcutaneous fat, also known as subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral fat, also called visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Subcutaneous fat is located directly beneath the skin, whereas visceral fat is located deeper in the body, serving as a cushion between the organs. High levels of visceral fat have been associated with insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments. Fat free mass (FFM), also called Lean Body Mass (LBM), is the total amount of nonfat (lean) mass of the body.