About 16% of Americans belong to health clubs.
Joining a gym is a great way to lose weight and get healthy. You will improve your muscle strength, joint mobility, and blood circulation.
Other folks join health clubs to get the support and motivation they need to stay in shape. Some find it a much-needed opportunity to make friends.
Your health routine may involve dieting, aerobic routines, and even strength training. If you have a trainer, you may have been introduced to body composition analysis (BCA.)
What is a BCA, and do you need one? How can it improve your health and fitness routine?
Let's take a look.
Body composition is a way of describing what the body is made of. Your body has fat, bone, water, and muscle.
A body composition analysis is a process of examining the body to see what percentage of it is body fat as compared to muscle tissue. It can also analyze where the fat and muscle are carried within your body. Results will vary based on your body structure and components.
A BCA can help a trainer, doctor or coach determine how healthy your body is. This can be difficult to determine simply by weighing you.
A body composition test will go beyond traditional analysis. It can indicate your body fat and weight as well as your water percentage and weight. A composition test will also tell you about your basal, or resting, metabolic rate, as well as your body fat percentage.
Your normal gym routine may involve the treadmill and some weight lifting. This is essential for good health, but a BCA can help you know exactly where you may have a higher fat composition. A trainer or dietician can then fine-tune your diet and exercise to best suit your needs.
Many people assume that having as little fat as possible is healthy. But being skinny does not necessarily mean you are healthy. Being lean means that you have greater muscle mass. Some fat is actually necessary for your basic health, including protecting organs, regulating hormones, and providing energy.
Generally speaking, however, the more lean muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolic rate will be. This means your body will be burning more calories even while you are resting.
Knowing your body's relationship of fat to fat-free mass can give you a good idea of your risk of obesity.
Being overweight or obese is a big contributing factor to several health problems that people experience later in life. These include diabetes, heart disease, fatigue, and cancer.
A BCA can measure your bone health and tell you about your risk for osteoporosis. It measures your bone density, and someone with low bone density is likely to be more at risk for osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of your bones are reduced. It can be prevented through a nutritious diet that includes lots of calcium, regular weight-bearing activities, and the avoidance of undernutrition.
Monitoring your body composition enables you to see your body fat decrease and your muscle mass increase. This is a much more accurate representation of your progress than weighing yourself. You can watch yourself become healthier and stronger incrementally.
Obesity can lead to a number of health problems. If you are concerned about your future health, it is important to turn away from unhealthy habits that are changing your body composition.
A sedentary lifestyle, in which you are sitting a lot and avoiding exercise, can lead to excess fat. This will get compounded or encouraged if you are overeating, or consuming too many calories a day for the amount of exercise you are getting.
Diets high in fats and sugars can also lead you to put on weight. You may also become overweight if you don't get enough nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and protein. Unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking can also contribute.
Eating lighter foods and stopping when you are lightly full is a great way to start eating healthier. You can also try eating more slowly and introducing more fruits and veggies into your diet.
Aerobic exercise is essential to losing weight. Anything that gets your heart pumping can help you lose weight, increase your stamina, and reduce your health risks. Aerobic exercise also releases endorphins, which can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Strength training makes you stronger and fitter, and can help you keep the weight off for good. It also protects your bone health and muscle mass.
Try lifting some light free weights with some squats or biceps curls when you start. You will eventually be able to lift more and extend your strength-training routine.
Having a healthy body composition can improve your sleep, your mood, and your energy. You will have improved blood circulation, breathing, and lung function.
Healthy body composition can improve your quality of life, as well as the length of it. it. Getting more information about yours might be one of the best investments you ever made.
A body composition analysis can give you lots of information about your body's makeup that will lead to improved dieting and exercise. It can help you get healthier and stronger with a more informed plan.
For more information on a healthy lifestyle, read our blog today.
