
6. Definition of an Athlete
The general consensus among researchers is that a quantitative dimension could be used in
defining an athlete. For example, an athlete could be defined as a person who consistently
trains a minimum of three times per week for two hours each time, in order to improve specific
skills required in the performance of their specific sport and/or activity.
7. What is Muscle Mass?
Our Body Fat Scale estimates the weight of Skeletal Muscle Mass in your body.
You’ve got around 650 muscles in your body, and they make up roughly half of your body
weight. These muscles can be divided into three different groups: Skeletal, Smooth and
Cardiac. All of these muscles can stretch and contract, but they perform very different
functions.
Skeletal muscle: Produces movement, maintains posture, stabilizes joints and generates
heat
Smooth muscle: Found in the walls of hollow organs
Cardiac muscle: Exists only in your heart
Skeletal muscle (SM)
The tissue most commonly thought of as muscle is skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscles cover
your skeleton, giving your body its shape. They are attached to your skeleton by strong,
springy tendons or are directly connected to rough patches of bone. Skeletal muscles are
under voluntary control, which means you consciously control what they do. Just about all
body movement, from walking to nodding your head, is caused by skeletal muscle contraction.
Your skeletal muscles function almost continuously to maintain your posture, making one tiny
adjustment after another to keep your body upright. Skeletal muscle is also important for
holding your bones in the correct position and prevents your joints from dislocating. Some
skeletal muscles in your face are directly attached to your skin. The slightest contraction of
one of these muscles changes your facial expression.
Skeletal muscle generates heat as a by-product of muscle activity. This heat is vital for
maintaining your normal body temperature.
Skeletal muscle represents approximately 30% of body weight of a healthy 58 kg woman or
40% of a 70 kg man. (International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1975)
8. What is Bone Mass?
Our Body Fat Scale estimates the weight of non-living bone mineral content. This is
important for monitoring and maintaining healthy bones through exercise and
calcium-rich diet.
An adult skeleton is made up of 206 bones, which come in several different shapes and sizes
and have specific structure.
Your bones contain blood vessels, nerve cells and living bone cells known as osteocytes.
These are held together by a framework of hard, non-living material containing calcium and
phosphorous. A thin membrane called the periosteum covers the surface of your bones.
Bone Mineral Content differs according to age and sex.
For Adults: The average bone mineral content of 15-29 year old female is approximately 2.7 kg,
for a 15-29 year old male is approximately between 2.7 and 3.5 kg. (Rico et al. 1993)
For Children: The average bone mineral content of 8-16 year old child is approximately
between 0.8 and 2.2 kg. (Faulkner et al. 1993)
0044-M380-O1 Rev A yProDoc BFA Series 7