3-102 One of the common procedures in fitness programs is to determine the fat-to-muscle ratio of the body. This is based on the principle that the muscle tissue is denser than the fat tissue, and, thus, the higher the average density of the body, the higher is the fraction of muscle tissue. The average density of the body can be determined by weighing the person in air and also while submerged in water in a tank. Treating all tissues and bones (other than fat) as muscle with an equivalent density of? muscle. Obtain a relation for the volume fraction of body fat xfat

x_fat = [ 0.5 * (Wsa + Wsw) - p_muscle*V ] / V * (p_fat - p_muscle)

Explanation:

Given:

- The total volume of body = V

- The average density of the body = p_avg

- The density of muscle = p_muscle

- The density of fat = p_fat

Find:

Obtain a relation for the volume fraction of body fat x_fat

Solution:

- The volume of the fat is given by:

V_fat = x_fat*V

- The volume of the muscle is given by:

V_muscle = V - V_fat

= V - x_fat*V

=V * (1 - x_fat)

- We will use the conservation of mass for the body related as:

mass_fat + mass_muscle = Total average mass

p_fat*V_fat + p_muscle*V_muscle = p_avg*V

p_fat*x_fat*V + p_muscle*V * (1 - x_fat) = p_avg*V

p_fat*x_fat + p_muscle * (1 - x_fat) = p_avg

- To determine p_1 we weigh the body in air:

Weight reading (Wsa) = m = p_1*V

p_1 = Wsa / V*g

- To determine p_2 we weigh the body in water:

Weight reading (Wsw) = m - p_w*V = p_1*V - p_w*V

Weight reading (Wsw) = V * (p_1 - p_w) = V * (p_2)

Where, p_2 = p_1 - p_water

p_2 = Wsw / V

- The average density p_avg:

p_avg = 0.5 * (p_1 + p_2)

p_avg = 0.5 * (Wsa / V + Wsw / V)

p_avg = 0.5 * (Wsa + Wsw) / V

- Plug in the mass equation:

p_fat*x_fat + p_muscle * (1 - x_fat) = 0.5 * (Wsa + Wsw) / V

x_fat * (p_fat - p_muscle) = 0.5 * (Wsa + Wsw) / V - p_muscle

x_fat = [ 0.5 * (Wsa + Wsw) - p_muscle*V ] / V * (p_fat - p_muscle)