Body Composition Flashcards
7 cards from real CSSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Body Composition flashcards as text
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'fat-free mass index' (FFMI) in the context of athlete assessment?
Answer: Fat-free mass divided by height squared
FFMI is calculated as fat-free mass (kg) ÷ height (m)², providing a height-adjusted measure of muscularity useful for comparing lean mass across athletes of different statures.
An athlete's DXA scan shows a T-score of -2.6 at the lumbar spine. Which diagnosis applies, and what is the primary nutrition concern?
Answer: Osteoporosis; low bone mineral density increasing fracture risk
A T-score of ≤ -2.5 meets the WHO diagnostic threshold for osteoporosis, which significantly elevates stress fracture risk in athletes.
When using hydrostatic weighing (underwater weighing) to estimate body density, what correction factor must always be applied?
Answer: Residual lung volume at the time of submersion
Residual volume — the air remaining in the lungs after maximal exhalation — creates buoyancy and must be measured or estimated to accurately calculate body density.
A strength and conditioning coach asks the sports dietitian why two athletes with identical body weight and height have very different DXA-derived body fat percentages. The most likely explanation is:
Answer: Differences in fat distribution and lean mass between the two athletes
Body weight and height (and therefore BMI) do not capture differences in fat versus lean tissue distribution, so two athletes with the same BMI can have markedly different body fat percentages.
The Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold equation for women uses which three sites?
Answer: Tricep, suprailiac, thigh
The Jackson-Pollock 3-site formula for females uses tricep, suprailiac, and thigh skinfolds, whereas the male version uses chest, abdomen, and thigh.
Which variable most strongly confounds BIA measurements taken in an athletic population?
Answer: Hydration status of the athlete
BIA relies on fluid distribution to estimate lean mass; dehydration or hyperhydration significantly alters electrical conductance and produces inaccurate body fat estimates.
In the context of body composition for weight-class sport athletes, what does 'optimal competition weight' refer to?
Answer: A weight at which performance is maximized while maintaining health and adequate fat stores
Optimal competition weight balances performance capacity with health, ensuring the athlete retains sufficient fat stores (above essential fat) and is not chronically energy-deficient.