Lean Body Mass

Lean body mass is defined as the weight of the human body minus the body fat. Essentially lean body mass is constituted by the weight of organs, muscles, and bone. The reason why lean body mass is often calculated is because it gives an insightful perspective of weight. Often when an individual states that they would like to lose weight, it means they would like to decrease body fat and increase their lean body mass. However, it is not feasible to have no body fat and only lean body mass, because fat is necessary to maintain bodily functions. Some examples of the functions of fat are to help regulate body temperature and provide a cushion for organs, tissues, and the main form of the body's energy storage.

There are several variables to why people who are the same height have differences in the lean body mass between humans. The most important variables are things such as physiologic and metabolic factors, as well as the individual lifestyle.

Usually, people try to manage their weight by using a height versus weight scale, such as body mass index (BMI), to determine if they are at a healthy weight. Although this method is better than not comparing one's [Page 999]weight to the norm, it does not take lean body mass into account. Thus, an especially muscular individual may be categorized as overweight while he or she actually as a low percentage of body fat. BMI is still, however, generally the fastest and easiest calculator of body fat, and is useful for monitoring weight. In many parts of the world, especially the United States of America, it is becoming increasingly important for people to understand the concept of lean body mass. Furthermore, the desire to have healthy lean body mass and lower total body fat and increased. People with a low lean body mass, and high fat mass are at a major risk for serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancers. About 85 percent of people who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, 90 percent of the type 2 diabetes population is overweight.

Essentially lean body mass is constituted by the weight of organs, muscles, and bone.

The most important method to increase lean body mass is to have a healthy low-fat diet, as well as regular weight bearing exercise. Strength training and increasing intake of protein helps to build lean body mass. In addition, aerobic exercise will help to expend more calories than consumption, thus it helps to lower body fat. The strength training is what helps to build lean body mass. Physical fitness paired with a good diet has a positive effect of increasing total muscle mass, maintaining a lower blood pressure, reducing blood cholesterol and low density lipoproteins and increasing high density lipids

The calculation to determine lean body mass is different for both men and women. Lean Body Mass (men) = (1.10 × Weight(kg)) − 128 (Weight2/(100 × Height(m))2) Lean Body Mass (women) = (1.07 × Weight(kg)) − 148 (Weight2/(100 ×

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