Final answer:
Body fat can be recorded using methods such as the skin-fold test with calipers, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA).
Step-by-step explanation:
Recording body fat can be achieved through various methods, each differing in complexity, accuracy, and cost. One common technique is the skin-fold test, where a health professional uses calipers to measure the thickness of skin at various body parts and compares the readings to standard values to estimate fat mass.
This method is inexpensive and noninvasive, although it is mostly compared to standards for young to middle-aged adults.
Another highly accurate methodology is Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which not only measures bone density but also estimates fat content by directing low-dose X-ray beams through the body.
The amount of energy absorbed from these beams helps to calculate the body's fat content using standard mathematical formulas.
Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) is a method that leverages the resistance of body tissues to electrical currents to estimate body composition. It operates on the principle that fat impedes electricity more than other body constituents. BIA devices range from professional equipment to home-use scales known as body composition scales.
Aside from these methods, there are straightforward calculations like the Body Mass Index (BMI) that provide a rough estimate of fatness based on weight and height, and the measurement of visceral fat using a measuring tape to assess waist circumference, which serves as an indicator of health risks associated with abdominal fat.