Fitness Lessons Body Composition and Weight Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hormone is primarily responsible for signaling hunger to the brain?
- Leptin
- Insulin
- Ghrelin (Correct answer)
- Cortisol
Correct answer: Ghrelin
Ghrelin is produced primarily in the stomach and signals the brain that the body needs food, stimulating appetite and promoting fat storage.
Question 2: What does the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) refer to?
- The temperature at which food is best digested
- The energy expended to digest, absorb, and metabolize nutrients (Correct answer)
- The caloric content of food measured by combustion
- The increase in body temperature after eating
Correct answer: The energy expended to digest, absorb, and metabolize nutrients
TEF is the energy cost of digesting, absorbing, and processing food, and accounts for roughly 10% of total daily energy expenditure.
Question 3: What is considered a safe and sustainable rate of weight loss per week according to most health guidelines?
- 0.1–0.25 lbs
- 0.5–2 lbs (Correct answer)
- 3–4 lbs
- 5–6 lbs
Correct answer: 0.5–2 lbs
Most health organizations recommend losing 0.5–2 pounds per week to ensure the loss is primarily fat rather than muscle or water, and to support long-term adherence.
Question 4: Which waist circumference measurement is generally considered a health risk threshold for men?
- Over 30 inches
- Over 35 inches
- Over 40 inches (Correct answer)
- Over 45 inches
Correct answer: Over 40 inches
A waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Question 5: What term describes fat stored around internal organs in the abdominal area?
- Subcutaneous fat
- Intramuscular fat
- Visceral fat (Correct answer)
- Essential fat
Correct answer: Visceral fat
Visceral fat surrounds internal organs in the abdominal cavity and is metabolically active, releasing hormones and inflammatory compounds linked to metabolic disease.
Question 6: What assessment tool passes a safe, low-level electrical current through the body to estimate body fat percentage?
- Skinfold caliper
- Hydrostatic weighing
- Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) (Correct answer)
- Air displacement plethysmography
Correct answer: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) measures resistance to an electrical current passing through the body — fat resists electricity more than muscle or water, allowing body fat estimation.
Question 7: Which factor has the greatest influence on an individual's Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)?
- Age
- Gender
- Lean body mass (Correct answer)
- Dietary habits
Correct answer: Lean body mass
Lean body mass (the amount of muscle and other non-fat tissue) is the primary determinant of RMR because metabolically active tissue requires more energy to maintain at rest.
Fitness Lessons Body Composition and Weight Management 2
Which hormone is primarily responsible for signaling hunger to the brain?