In the fat tank

Trust Grahamstown's weather to cause a power cut the night before our session in the hydrostatic weighing tank, and to present freezing wet weather on the day.  Nonetheless this did not deter three brave health journ students from discovering their weight under water.  Thankfully, the HKE department in attempts to keep the water at least 21 degrees had kettles boiling all morning.  Hydrostatic weighing is perhaps the most accurate 'weigh' to measure your body fat composition.  The principle of hydrostatic weighing is that certain body tissues such as muscles and bones are dense and sink, whereas body fat is less dense and tends to 'float'.  Your weight is measured underwater and then using a prediction equation, they determine the amount of muscle and adipose tissue.  I weighed 1.5kg underwater.  Much to my dismay, the lower your weight, the fatter you are.  A pity it doesn't work like this on land.  Miriam will still put our weights into the prediction equation and then let us know individually how 'fat' we are.

We also had our skinfold measurements taken: this method assesses the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue.  Using calipers the HKE students grabbed at our fat.  They measure the number of skinfolds, with the underlying fat on the body.  Using a prediction equation they can then determine the percent of body fat.  This method is quite invasive but the HKE students were most sensitive and polite, thereby making the whole experience rather enjoyable as us girls in one corner were able to discuss those niggly bits that love to move but are impossible to move.

And incase the above methods do not work, we also did a Biolectrical Impedance (BI) test.  This was the most relaxing method as you simply lie on a mat, on your back.  Two electrodes are attached to your foot and two to your hand.  A slight current is sent through your body, although you feel nothing, and you are able to gain your BI.

And now we 'weight' for the results.