Assessment of body composition by using a new chart method

Abstract

The body mass index (BMI, weight/height2), is commonly used as a simple and valid way of assessing body composition. However, the significance of the BMI is not clear, since body mass is composed of two main components: fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), each with different densities. In order to graphically present body composition as a quantitative measure, a chart based on the fat-free mass index (FFMI, FFM/height2) and fat mass index (FMI; FM/height2), as reported in a previous paper (Hattori, J. Anthropol. Soc. Nippon 99:141–148, 1991), was revised by adding information on both the percentages of body fat (%fat) and the BMI. The benefit of the new chart method is its simplicity which comes from the application of two variables on a two dimensional chart. The chart containing the lines of %fat and the BMI can be of use in detecting multiple aspects of body composition since it provides four pieces of information at the same time: FMI, FFMI, BMI, and %fat. Am. J Hum. Biol. 9:573–578, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.