Final answer:
Calipers, hydrostatic testing, and a DEXA Scan are utilized to measure body fat percentage, which is essential for assessing obesity-related health risks. A DEXA Scan in particular can provide precise measurements of body fat by using X-ray technology. The correct answer is option: 3) body fat percentage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calipers, hydrostatic testing, and a DEXA Scan are all techniques used to calculate body fat percentage.
- Calipers measure the thickness of skin folds at various parts of the body to estimate body fat.
- Hydrostatic testing, also known as underwater weighing, compares a person's weight in water to their weight on land to determine body density and body fat percentage.
- A DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) Scan measures bone density, fat content, and lean tissue mass by directing two low-dose X-ray beams through the body and determining the amount of energy absorbed, which varies according to tissue content. Using standard mathematical formulas, body fat can be accurately estimated.
Knowing one's body fat percentage is crucial for understanding health risks associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. While BMI (Body Mass Index) is a useful tool for categorizing people and is highly correlative with disease risk, it does not measure body fat directly and has limitations since it does not account for fat distribution or muscle mass which can sometimes underestimate or overestimate body fat.