Author Question: What does BMI measure and is it a helpful tool? Why or why not? What will be an ideal ... (Read 27 times)

karlynnae · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

What does BMI measure and is it a helpful tool? Why or why not?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is subcutaneous fat?

What will be an ideal response?

fdliggud · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A person can reduce visceral fat through exercise without changing his or her overall body mass index (BMI). Note that BMI is a measure of the size of the body based on height and weight that is often used to estimate body fat. However, it is not always the most accurate proxy for body fat since a person can weigh more because of excess muscle rather than fat. For example, when Arnold Schwarzenegger was body building, he would have been considered overweight according to the BMI metric, yet his percentage of body fat was actually very low. Thus, exercise can be protective of health even when it is not noticeably apparent through BMI due to its ability to reduce visceral fat.

Answer to Question 2

Visceral fat contrasts with the more common subcutaneous fat that is found just beneath the skinthe type of fat that can be removed during liposuction. Subcutaneous fat is not as dangerous as visceral fat.