Which body composition measurement uses height and weight measurements?

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Here is the question and the available choices restated for clarity.
Question: Which body composition measurement uses height and weight measurements?
Options: a. Body mass index, b. Bioelectrical impedance, c. Air displacement, d. Skinfold thickness

Now, I will evaluate each option one by one.

Option a: Body mass index. This metric is calculated from a person’s height and weight, typically as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m^2). It directly uses height and weight to categorize weight status, making it the measurement that relies on these two variables. The concept is straightforward: BMI = weight ÷ (height)^2, so height and weight are essential inputs.

Option b: Bioelectrical impedance. This method estimates body composition by sending a small electrical current through the body and measuring impedance. It uses factors such as resistance and reactance, often combined with demographic data, but it does not rely on height and weight as the primary input for the core measurement. Therefore, it does not primarily depend on height and weight measurements.

Option c: Air displacement. This technique (e.g., plethysmography) estimates body volume by measuring the air displaced when a person sits inside a chamber. From body volume, body density is derived, and body fat is estimated using equations. Height and weight are not the fundamental measurements used to compute body composition in this method.

Option d: Skinfold thickness. This approach measures the thickness of skinfolds at specific sites to estimate subcutaneous fat and overall body fat percentage. It relies on calipers and site measurements, not height and weight as the core inputs for the calculation of body fat percentage.

In terms of distinguishing which option uses height and weight measurements, BMI is unique in basing its calculation directly on those two variables. The other methods rely on different physical measurements or electrical properties, not a simple height-and-weight ratio.

Thus, each option’s core concept has been unpacked, highlighting why BMI stands out as the height-and-weight-based measurement, while the others involve different measurement principles or inputs.

HESM 286 (001) FALL 2025 Cumulative Final Exam

Which body composition measurement uses height and weight measurements?

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