What is typically measured by skinfold assessments?

Skinfold assessments are designed to estimate body fat percentage by measuring the thickness of skinfolds at specific locations on the body. This method relies on the principle that the amount of subcutaneous fat correlates with total body fat. Trained professionals utilize calipers to pinch the skin and underlying fat at various sites, such as the triceps, abdomen, and thigh, to obtain measurements that can be used in specific equations or charts to estimate body fat percentage.

In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of physical health or composition. Muscle mass assessments typically involve techniques such as bioelectrical impedance analysis or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which are not related to skinfold measurements. Bone density evaluation often requires imaging techniques like DEXA scans, rather than skinfold assessments, which cannot provide information about bone health. Similarly, metabolic rate assessments are usually determined through indirect calorimetry or other specialized methods, not through skinfold measurements.