Final answer:
Subcutaneous fat can be measured using calipers in the skin-fold test, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), or hydrostatic weighing. Fat distribution, influenced by hormones and genetics, affects disease risk, with visceral fat being a significant predictor of health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of subcutaneous fat in the body can be determined through various methods. One common method is the skin-fold test, which uses calipers to measure the thickness of skin and underlying fat at different parts of the body. This is compared to standard charts to estimate body fat percentage. Other more technical methods include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which uses low-dose X-rays to differentiate between bone mass, lean tissue, and fat mass, and hydrostatic weighing, where the subject is weighed underwater to calculate body density and consequently their percent body fat.
Accumulation of fat is influenced by hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, as well as genetic factors and can vary throughout life. Fat distribution is also a significant health predictor; particularly, visceral fat located in the abdominal cavity is associated with higher disease risk. Measuring visceral fat can be as simple as taking a waist circumference measurement with a tape measure. Health professionals also take into account total fat mass and body weight to assess health risks associated with obesity.