Figure your body’s ratios

Ever wonder what your body’s ratio of fat to muscle is, and, more important, if it’s healthy? There are several ways to find out.

This month, challenge yourself to make an appointment with your doctor or trainer to get your body composition tested using one of the following methods:
• Waist-to-hip ratio: A simple measurement that ties middle fat to overall body fat.
• Body mass index: A calculation that correlates weight and height.
• Skinfold measurements: Uses calipers to measure subcutaneous tissue.
• Underwater weighing: Assesses buoyancy (it increases with added fat).
• Bioelectrical impedance: Fat impedes low-voltage electrical currents.

Note: Cutting-edge techniques, like DEXA and HIR, use air displacement, x-rays and light spectroscopy, respectively, but may be expensive and hard to find outside of high-end health centers.