| Can Obesity be Accurately Measured?
If an individual wanted to know how much fat his or her body has, the best DIY test to perform would be a quick “pinch test” in which he or she could simply choose a lump of flesh and pinch it with his or her forefinger and thumb to see how thick it is. The results will vary from one body part to another, as different parts accumulate varied fat levels. For example, the back of the hand may be very thin compared to one’s thighs or arm.
However, if doctors needed to determine whether an individual were simply overweight, obese or morbidly obese, they would have to perform specific procedures to obtain accurate results. Decades ago, and to this date, doctors have been guided by a weight/height ratio table to see whether one’s current weight was acceptable for his or her height. However, there are just so many of these ratio tables that doctors disagree over the standard and the best one. Other tables may not even consider male and female differences, being that males are more flesh and bones, and females are genetically made with more fatty deposits.
Doctors know that women have more fats than men do, and in general, they agree that women with more than 30% body fat, and males with 25% body fat are considered obese. Still, how can one’s body fat be accurately measured?
The most reliable procedure is to weigh an individual underwater. This procedure is not extensively used, and may only be performed with highly advanced equipment. To estimate body fats, doctors would perform a skin fold measurement test, or send a few waves of electric current safely through the individual’s body. Still, these tests are extremely expensive, and are not easily accessible, nor are they highly accurate.
So how does a doctor determine obesity in a patient? They go back to the trusty body mass index. The body mass index is fairly simple to calculate, and there’s not a need for any fancy gadget or expensive health spa.
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