For bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts, changing body composition often reflects hard work and discipline—but knowing body composition is useful for anyone, and for more than just bragging rights.

For decades, health experts have relied on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, to classify people as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. But sometimes, you need more than ...

The single most important concept is that “Athletic” and “Muscular” aren’t the same thing. As fitness culture became mainstream (through Instagram, CrossFit, and gym culture), the two terms started to ...

There are various types of body composition tests (more on these below). Still, each one measures the percentages of fat and fat-free mass (muscle and bone) in the body. Knowing these percentages can ...

Body composition offers a clearer picture of health than weight alone, because it reflects your unique proportions of fat, muscle, bone, and water. Optimizing body composition may help support energy ...

The number on the scale doesn’t reveal everything about your health. In an era dominated by smartwatches and fitness apps, tracking health has never been easier—or more confusing. The sheer volume of ...

You can’t rush the process. Building muscle and losing fat simultaneously requires balance—not extremes. If you’re in a 200-400 calorie deficit, expect around 0.5–1 pound of fat loss per week and ...

Hormonal shifts drive fat redistribution, muscle loss, and bone decline—all risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women, says Brooke Aggarwal, EdD. Menopause comes with more symptoms than just ...

This article was reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD. Key Takeaways: Body composition offers a clearer picture of health than weight alone, because it reflects your unique proportions of fat, muscle, bone, ...