Medical Terms About Body Measurements

In the healthcare world, medical terminology it is broad and not at all simple in many cases, so it is usually more common to give explanations than to resort to medical terms that are not popularly known. In the case of nutritionists, we often find ourselves in the same case. Now, part of the more or less known medical terms, but sometimes misleading, are those that belong to the scope of body measurements. We are talking about the simplest and most common, which have become popular and it seems that they are more or less known, but generally it is necessary clarify concepts so they do not lead to misconceptions.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Known by its acronym or by its acronym in English BMI (Body Mas Index), this data has become increasingly obsolete. Actually, this medical term is the result of dividing weight by height squared, or what is the same BMI = weight in kilos / Height in meters x Height in meters. The resulting figure gives us an approximation of whether the person is overweight or not, but we must bear in mind that this data may not be adequate in some cases, such as in people who do a lot of sports, especially bodybuilding.

Percentiles

Percentiles are a statistical measure. This medical term is known, at a popular level, they are known as the typical measurement that we associate with children. That's right, because they exist percentile curves that tell us what the average growth figures are according to age and sex.

There are Body Mass Index curves… There are also different reference tables depending on the population to be measured, since the population measurements vary and with them the percentiles.

We will have different references if we study, for example, the Spanish population or the United States population, and we have to choose the most appropriate and updated tables in each case. There are small divergences when determining from what percentile exactly a boy or girl is considered to be overweight, underweight, obese, etc. But they are small nuances and the tables are still a used measure that is also especially important to see the evolution of growth. In other words, it is more important that a creature remains stable and close to a certain percentile, as long as it is not considered overweight or underweight or underdeveloped, than to note that it is close to the 50th percentile, since this is simply the mean value of the population for the parameter we are measuring. To give an example, a girl who always stays in the 25th percentile is understood as perfectly healthy, while if she drops or rises significantly in the percentile in a short time, it will serve as an indicator of possible problems that have generated that change and we will to investigate further to detect if such problems exist.

Bioimpedance

It is a method that is based on the relationship that exists between the electrical properties of the body as a function of the different tissues and their water content. What indirect method of estimating body composition, bioimpedance depends on premises relating to the electrical properties of the body, its composition, the level of hydration, age, sex, physical condition ...

It is a good method to determine body water and fat-free mass, in people without alterations in body fluids and electrolytes. To determine the values, it is necessary to apply the appropriate equations to the person being measured, based on data such as age and sex.

Waist / hip ratio

This index tells us as is what its own name expresses to us. Its about result of measuring the waist and hip contours with a tape measure and dividing between them. It is a measurement that has been established as a more accurate anthropometric indicator medical term for assessing total body fat and especially intra-abdominal fat.

This measurement helps us determine the so-called obesity android or apple-shaped. Its simplicity means that it is chosen as a method to determine central adiposity and to be able to measure, more effectively than by means of BMI, the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disorders e. The reference values ​​for this index are as follows:

• Waist / Hip ratio = ICC = 0.71-0.85 normal for women.
• Waist / hip ratio = ICC = 0.78-0.94 normal for men.

Skin folds

These measurements are those that are carried out in consultation when we want to determine with greater accuracy the body composition in the different areas of the body, because according to their morphology each person tends to develop more fatty deposits in one or other areas of the body. This fact will be significantly affected in athletes, depending on the type of sport they exercise.

Depending on the determination we want to make, we will use this medical term to measure more or less folds and we will choose one or the other. The measurement is carried out thanks to a measuring device called a lipocaliber or caliper

The measurement of the body through evaluating its size, shape, proportionality, composition, etc. It is included in what we call kinanthropometry and, as a science, it is regulated by a strict protocol of measurement rules determined by national and international regulatory bodies. The reference normative body in kinanthropometry, based on international consensus, is the International Society for the Avancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). This society grants certifications to people who have enough training to perform these measurements in a really precise way.

• • The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a medical term that relates weight and height and gives us guidance on the suitability of our weight. However, it has its limitations and the values ​​may not be suitable for certain people, such as athletes, for example.
  • The waist / hip ratio has been related to the incidence of high blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular problems.
  • Anthropometric measurements and bioimpedance give us more information about the person's body composition. For their part, percentiles continue to be a very useful tool for assessing growth in childhood and a widely used medical term.

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