OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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What method is commonly used to measure body fat?

Thermographic scanning
X-ray imaging
Calipers to measure fat underneath the skin
Body mass index calculation

The correct answer is: Calipers to measure fat underneath the skin

The use of calipers to measure fat underneath the skin is a common method for assessing body fat. This technique involves pinching the skin and the underlying fat at specific locations on the body to measure the thickness of the skinfolds. By taking these measurements at various sites, it is possible to estimate the total body fat percentage. This method is practical, non-invasive, and can be performed in various settings, such as fitness or health assessments. In contrast, while thermographic scanning and X-ray imaging may provide useful information about body composition, they are not standard approaches for directly measuring body fat. Thermographic scanning focuses more on temperature variations rather than fat measurement, and X-ray imaging involves exposure to radiation, which is not typically used for routine body fat assessment. Body mass index (BMI) calculation, while a popular method for assessing weight in relation to height, does not specifically measure body fat. BMI can provide a rough estimate of body fat based on overall body weight, but it does not distinguish between fat and lean body mass, making it less accurate for assessing body fat levels compared to skinfold calipers.