Body Mass Index

The Body Mass Index - BMI

The index of body mass can also be called also the Quetelet index. It is a measure of statistical significance that measures an individual's the areas of height and weight. It's a helpful tool to estimate a healthy body weight . The measurement based on how tall an individual is. It is reliable and is the most popular tool to determine the cause of weight problems.

Criteria For Underweight And Obesity By BMI

Today, using The World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria for underweight and obese through BMI it is possible to discover whether the individual is under the category of overweight, overweight overweight or falls into the category of obese.

Calculation Of BMI

BMI of any person is calculated using the following formula:Body Mass Index (BMI) = Body weight / (height x height)
Here the weight of the individual weighs in kilograms, and the height is calculated in metres.
Example:
Consider that the weight of an individual is 70kg and the height is 1.60 m. Now calculate these numbers.
BMI = 70 / (1.60 x 1.60) = 70 / 2.56 = 27.34 kg/m2
With the help of the World Health Organisation (WHO) the criteria for obese and overweight have been updated.
By BMI using BMI, you can come to discover if the individual is classified as underweight, normal
weight, overweight or falls under the category of obesity.

Precautions During Measurements

These precautions should be taken while taking the measurements for BMI.

1. The body's weight has to be recorded on the most reliable and accurate weight machine.
2. The student with a body mass to be measured, should wear the minimum necessary clothes without shoes.
3. In order to measure height the student should be bare-footed and his/her entire body needs to be straight.

Physical Fitness Test (AAPHERD Test Score)

AAPHERD i.e. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a test that is used to measure and evaluate fitness levels of children. The first version of this test was announced in 1958. It was then revised in 1966 and after that in 1976. Many changes in the test's battery were introduced in 1976 in AAPHER youth fitness test. The test was designed to measure the level of fitness of youngsters. The tests test body composition as well as agility, flexibility, coordination as well as upper body strength and aerobic endurance. They are designed to ensure that they could be administered by professionals on the job.

Below are the test component from the AAPHERD exercise test

1. Pull ups (boys)
2. Flexed-arm hang (girls)
3. Flexed leg sit ups
4. Shuttle run
5. Standing broad jump
6. 50-yard sprint 9 minute run suitable for ages 10 to 12 years. 1.5 mile and 12 minutes run for children age 13 and up.

In 1980 AAPHERD introduced the "Physical Best" test that contained the following questions:
1. 1 1/2 mile walk or 12-minute run
2. The measurement of the folds on the skin is body fat
3. Sit ups
4. Pull ups
5. Sit and test your reach

The test for physical fitness recognizes students for their level of fitness in the above tests.

Shuttle Run

The test measures speed the speed, quickness, and agility of the participants. Set two parallel lines 30 feet apart. Then, place two blocks of wood, between the two lines. Students start at the opposite line. After the signal "Go", the student races across the block, picks one up, returns to the starting line, places block on the line, goes back, and picks up another block and runs back to the starting line. Blocks should be placed between the lines.

Pull-Ups Testing

A student hangs from a horizontal bar that the student is able to be hung from, arms fully extended and feet away from floors using either an grip or an underhand. Students with a shorter height could be lifted to starting position. They will raise the body until the chin clears the bar and then lower
body to fully hang starting position. Student performs as many accurate push-ups as possible.

Flexed- Arm Hang Testing

With an overhand or underhand grip, student is in a flexed hanging position with chin clearing the bar. Students may be lifted to this position. The student holds the position as long as he can.

Flexed Arm Hang Scoring

The chest of the student should be kept close to bar with legs hung straight. Measurement of time is stopped at the point that the student's head touches or falls below the bar.

Standing Long Jump

The standing long jump is a very popular and simple test to conduct to test explosive leg power. The athlete stands in front of an area marked on the ground. With their feet slightly separated. A two-foot landing and take-off can be achieved using the swing of the arms and bending of the knees to provide forward drive. The student will attempt to jump as high as possible and landing on both feet and not falling backwards. Three attempts are allowed. The measurement is taken from take-off line to the nearest point of contact on landing the greatest distance jumped in the three best attempts is recorded.

50-Yard Dash

It's a test designed to assess the speed of the student. The student is placed behind the starting line , and begins going at the speed of 'Go'. Once the distance has been completed, the duration required to cover 50 yards is noted.

The new test for AAPHERD attempts to measure fitness of health

1. 1 1/2 Mile Walk/Run Or 12-Minute Run

Students are expected to run 1.5 miles. Their times are measured by stop watches. If this method is not appropriate, then the students are required in 12 mins of running. This way, their distance is recorded. The first method is believed to be the most efficient method to know the cardiovascular fitness.

2. Skin Fold Measurement:

In this test , calipers skin is used to measure how thick fat is on various body parts. After measuring the thickness of different parts of the body, these measurements are put in the form of an equation (different equation for males and females) so that you can calculate the body's density. After calculating body density, it's then placed into an equation to calculate the percentage of fat in the body. All measurements should be done from the left side.
The following three parts are the ones that are measured:
(a) Abdominal skinfold
(b) Chest skinfold
(c) Arm skinfold