Measuring body fat to keep eye on health

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

VIDEO: Calculating body fat to track health

Even if the number on the scale is low, if your body fat is high, it puts you at a greater risk for all kinds of medical problems.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- When you are trying to get fit, it's not just about the number on the scale. Your body fat percentage gives a better picture of your health.

Even if the number on the scale is low, if your body fat is high and you have a lot of unhealthy fat around your organs, it puts you at a greater risk for all kinds of medical problems.

So at a local gym, they're using a new device. It quickly measures body fat and lets you know if you are on the right track to better health.

Juliet Burgh and Jesse Frank are trainers at Unite Fitness.

Jesse was always in tip-top shape until about a year ago.

"I was severely injured and it really set me back. I couldn't eat, I couldn't work, I couldn't exercise," Jesse said.

He ended up losing a lot of weight, mostly muscle.

When he gained it back, it was mostly fat.

When he was medically cleared to work out again, his goal was to lose fat, gain muscle.

To help him keep track, they used BodyMetrix Ultrasound. It measures body fat more accurately than other systems.

"Basically, it is able to detect how much fat you have on your body, how much muscle and how much water," Juliet said.

Jesse saw his body fat drop from 21-percent to 14-percent over the past few months.

The more muscle mass, the faster your metabolism, that's why Juliet encourages strength training with all her clients.

"Other ways to do it, make sure you are eating enough protein, which helps keep lean muscle and repair muscles especially after you exercise," Juliet said.

"I feel great. I feel so much more like myself, I feel better and lighter," Jesse said.

There's also a slightly less accurate way to calculate your body fat percentage at home with a tape measure:

Fitness Calculators