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Which parameter correlates best with measurements of total muscle mass?

A) Body mass index (BMI)
B) Waist circumference
C) Body fat percentage
D) Lean body mass

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Lean body mass is the parameter that best correlates with total muscle mass, as it measures the muscle content directly, unlike BMI, which does not differentiate between muscle and fat content.

Step-by-step explanation:

The parameter that correlates best with measurements of total muscle mass is D) Lean body mass. Lean body mass includes the weight of your muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and internal organs. It is the most accurate representation of muscle mass because it specifically measures the weight of the muscles, independent of fat. On the other hand, body mass index (BMI) is a simple calculation based on height and weight and doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat. Therefore, BMI can sometimes underestimate or overestimate the actual muscle mass in an individual.

Waist circumference and body fat percentage also provide some information regarding body composition; however, waist circumference focuses more on abdominal fat, and body fat percentage indicates the proportion of fat in relation to the entire body mass. While body fat percentage is closer to assessing muscle mass than BMI and waist circumference, it still doesn't directly measure muscle content. Hence, lean body mass is the best parameter for directly correlating with total muscle mass measurements.

User David McHealy
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