Question

Your female client wants to tone up. While she has enough fat stored throughout her body to justify becoming leaner, she is at a visibly healthy body weight. What is the best field assessment to measure body fat given her appearance?

A. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
B. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
C. Skinfold measurements
D. Waist circumference measurement

Answer 1

Skinfold measurements, using a caliper to gauge fat thickness, are the best choice for a field assessment to measure body fat in a healthy-weight female, being noninvasive, accurate, and cost-effective.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best field assessment to measure body fat for a female client who appears to be at a visually healthy weight would be skinfold measurements. This method involves using a caliper to measure the thickness of skin folds in various parts of the body, such as the back and arm, and then comparing these measurements to established standards to assess body fat percentage. It is considered noninvasive, fairly accurate, and inexpensive, making it a practical choice for a fitness professional. While other methods like Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) also measure body fat, they are more complex and may be less accessible or more costly.