Body Composition and Lean Body Mass Index for Japanese College Students.

Abstract

Lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass (FM) are two major components of body composition and when totalled equal body mass. Body mass index (BMI) as represented by weight/height2, has proven to be both a simple and valid way of assessing body composition. However, the significance of the index is not clear since body weight is composed of two main components: LBM and FM, each of whose densities show distinct differences.In order to present the body constitution as clear quantitative measures, the lean body mass index (LBMI; LBM/height2), fat mass index (FMI; FM/height2) and a chart system (body composition chart) are introduced in this study. Through this chart system, we can detect the relative amount of the two major body constructs and differentiate subjects into adipo-muscular, lean-muscular, adipo-atrophy and lean-atrophy types.