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Body Composition Flashcards

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1
Q

Define body composition.

A

The relative proportions of protein, fat, water + mineral components in the body that make up total body weight

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2
Q

What are the components of body composition?

A

Fat free mass (FFM) = 72% water, 21% protein + 7% bone minerals

Fat mass (FM) = 20% water + 80% adipose tissue

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3
Q

What is the difference in body composition between men and women?

A

Men have more muscle than women whereas women have more fat than men

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4
Q

What are the 2 types of body fat distribution?

A
  1. Andoid

2. Gynoid

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5
Q

What are the features of andoid body fat distribution?

A

Upper body obesity (mostly stomach area)

Higher risk for T2DM, CVD + HTN

Mostly in males

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6
Q

What are the features of gynoid body fat distribution?

A

Lower body obesity

Harder on hip + knee joints

Found mostly in women

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7
Q

What is another word for body type?

A

Somatotype

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8
Q

Describe the ectomorph body type.

A

Lean + angular, long limbs, slim + narrow waist

Weight loss easy

Low levels of body fat

Difficult to gain LBM

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9
Q

Describe the mesomorph body type.

A

Strong, athletic, muscular with slim hips

Faster metabolism

Gain muscle mass easily

Lose weight easily

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10
Q

Describe the endomorph body type.

A

Round, short, tapering limbs, larger boned, plump/stocky appearance, round faces, large thighs + hips

Higher body fat

Easily build muscle

Weight loss difficult

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11
Q

What should you consider when measuring and assessing body composition?

A

How
Practicalities
Patient group

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12
Q

What is a body weight assessment?

A

Total weight of FFM + FM combined

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13
Q

What is a body composition assessment?

A

Assessment of varying components of the FFM compared to the FM

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14
Q

What assessment is most common on nutrition screening tools?

A

BMI/Quetelets index - measure of body weight

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15
Q

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

A

Ratio of weight + height often used to express clinical risk

Mass (kg) / (height(m))^2

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16
Q

What is the Body Mass Index (BMI) that reflects the lowest risk of illness?

A

18.5-24.9kg/m^2 (23kg/m^2 classed as overweight for Asians)

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17
Q

What are the limitations of measuring Body Mass Index (BMI)?

A

Doesn’t consider body composition

Should be used in conjunction with other measures e.g. waist circumference

Age + gender independent

Different classifications for Asians + Afro-Carribean’s

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18
Q

How is Body Mass Index (BMI) linked to mortality risk?

A

Risk increases as BMI declines but also as BMI rises

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19
Q

Why do Asian people have a different ideal BMI to White Caucasian individuals?

A

Because overall their body composition is lower than that of white people so they should weigh less under normal circumstances

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20
Q

What alternative height measurements can be used to predict BMI without scales or a height measure?

A

Ulna length
Knee height caliper
Demi span

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21
Q

What does Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) give you an indication of?

A

Body weight changes over time (can be used if patient cannot be weighed)

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22
Q

What are the normal values for Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and how does this relate to Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Study These Flashcards
A

< 23.5cm = BMI < 20kg/m^2

> 32cm = BMI > 30kg/m^2

23
Q

What part of body composition relates to disease risk?

24
Q

What are the 4 ways of measuring body composition?

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Anthropometry
  2. Densitometry
  3. Bioelectrical impedance
  4. Imaging techniques
25
What test can be used to look at muscle function? How does it work?
Hand grip dynamometer as it indicates general upper body strength Decreased strength = increased all cause mortality
26
Why would you test muscle function when looking at body composition?
As muscle function responds earlier to nutritional deprivation than muscle/body mass
27
What does an anthropometry test involve?
Estimates volume of subcutaneous fat (adipose) via skinfolds
28
What are the pros and cons of anthropometry testing?
Pros: sensitive to ethnic + age variations in fat distribution, serial measurements most sensitive with comparison tables available Cons: assumes constant ratio of subcutaneous + total fat
29
What is the aim of measuring the waist circumference?
To assess body fat distribution i.e. andoid (apple) vs gynoid (pear)
30
What must you bare in mind when measuring the waist circumference?
Men in different ethnic groups have differing waist circumference risk factors At risk waist measurements: - Sub Saharan African, Eastern Mediterranean + Middle Eastern = >94cm/37inch - South Asian, Japanese + Chinese = >90cm/35inch - ALL WOMEN = >80cm/31.5inch
31
What is densitometry testing?
Under water/hydrostatic weighing measuring % body fat
32
What are the problems with densitometry testing?
Hard to use in young, old + sick Need to breath out as much as possible underwater Multiple measures best Sensitive to variations in bone mass + changes in water temp
33
What has superseded densitometry testing? Describe this test.
Air displacement methods - BODPOD - calculates volume of air displaced + calculates body composition from this -> results provided % body fat, lean body mass + estimate of energy expenditures
34
What are the pros and cons of air displacement plethysmography?
Pros: accurate Cons: extensive hair has to be removed, expensive equipment + not portable
35
What is the bioelectrical impedance test?
Non invasive bedside measure which works on premise that fat does not contain water + that electrical current flows through tissues containing water + ions but not fat
36
What are the limitations of bioelectrical impedance?
- Error on data entry - Requires standardised conditions - Assumes hydration of FFM constant - Affected by skin temperature - Cannot use in dehydration, ascites or extremes of BMI range
37
What factors determine what measurement of body composition will be used?
Population group assessing Facilities funding Time available
38
What is malnutrition?
A state of nutrition in which a deficiency or excess (or imbalance) of energy, protein + other nutrients causes measurable adverse effects on tissue/body form (body shape, size + composition) + function, + clinical outcome - refers to both over + under nutrition (more commonly used to refer to undernutrition)
39
Give some examples of chronic, comorbid conditions that overnutrition is associated with.
``` Sleep apnoea Pulmonary disease NAFLD GI disease T2DM Coronary disease e.g. HPN Stroke Depression ```
40
How much does overnutrition shorten a person's lifespan?
8-10 years
41
Risk for certain types of cancer increases with ___
BMI
42
If an obese individual loses 5-10% of their weight (20% in severe obesity), what effects will ensue?
- Reduction in risk of T2DM - Reduction in CVD risk factors - Improvement in blood lipid profile - Improvement in BP - Improvement in severity of obstructive sleep apnoea - Improvement in health-related QoL
43
At what age does malnutrition become more common?
> 65 years
44
What is the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)?
All hospitals should have nutrition screening + all patients should be screened within 24hrs - developed by BAPEN
45
Define the term cachexia.
A condition of abnormally low weight, weakness + generally bodily decline associated with chronic disease Wasting syndrome characterised by unintentional weight loss
46
What are the symptoms of cachexia?
``` Weight loss Muscle atrophy Fatigue Weakness Loss of appetite ```
47
How does cachexia occur?
Associated with a disproportionate loss of skeletal muscle rather than body fat Metabolic stress e.g. injury or illness may inhibit body from using fat stores to provide energy in certain conditions which is why it is associated with cancer + other chronic disease
48
Why is cachexia such a big problem?
Impairs QoL + response to therapy which increases morbidity + mortality of cancer patients
49
What can cancer cachexia affect?
``` Brain (anorexia) Brown adipose tissue (thermogenesis) White adipose tissue (wasting) Heart (cardiac dysfunction) Gut (malabsorption) Liver (acute-phase response) ```
50
What complications relate to loss of lean body mass occur?
10% loss = impaired immunity, increased infection + 10% mortality 20% loss = decreased healing, weakness, infection + 30% mortality 30% loss = too weak to sit, pressure sores, pneumonia, no healing + 50% mortality 40% loss = death, usually from pneumonia + 100% mortality
51
What are some consequences of malnutrition?
``` Decreased QoL Increased risk of illness/infection Increased pressures sores/impaired wound healing Medicine less effective Longer healing times Longer hospital stays Confusion/depression/mood disturbance Increased falls (elderly) Decreased respiratory muscle strength Increased mortality ```
52
What is the cycle of malnutrition?
1. Decreased energy + nutrition intake 2. Muscle catabolism + weight loss 3. Delayed recovery 4. 2ndary infections 5. Depression + lethargy 6. Further decreased intake 7. Serious complications e.g. pneumonia Cycle starts again until morbidity/mortality occurs (CYCLE CAN BE BROKEN!)
53
What factors affect body composition?
1. Biological: age (sarcopenia), gender, genetics, ethnicity, menopausal state 2. Lifestyle: diet, physical activity smoking, alcohol 3. Health-related factors: presence of disease, genetic predisposition 4. Biometric: height, fat + muscle distribution 5. Environment

Block 1 (54 decks)

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