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mass
and fluid compartments
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Body composition analysis is the clinical assessment of tissue and fluid
distribution in the human body. The body is modeled as a series of tissue
and fluid compartments.
Fat Body Weight (or Fat Mass) is the total amount of stored
lipids in the body and consists of the following types of fat:
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Subcutaneous Fat is located directly beneath the skin.
Subcutaneous fat serves as an energy reserve and as insulation
against outside cold.
Visceral Fat is located deeper within the body.
Visceral fat serves as an energy reserve and as a cushion
between organs.
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Lean Body Weight (or Fat-Free Mass) is the total amount of
lean (nonfat) parts of the body. It consists of approximately 73%
water, 20% protein, 6% mineral, and 1% ash.
The figure below provides a graphical representation of the compartments
in the human body.
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