Body composition

Proportions of fat, muscle, bone and body fluids in the body. Apart from
body fluid variation (up to 1 kg), fat and muscle mass are the most
amenable to change with any sound exercise programme. Surrogate
measurements of body composition include, body mass index, waist-tohip
ratio, and sum of skinfolds of body sites.
Goals for body composition should be to maintain or increase muscle
mass or to reduce body fat and also to increase or preserve bone mass. A
high percentage of body fat increases the risk of heart-disease and certain
cancer forms.