1.2 Body composition

Body composition is the term that defines the phenomenon of the biologicalmaterial composition of the body, that is, the set of substances that constitute the materially manifest structure of the human body [27]. The macro-level composition of the human body is represented by four biologically measurable segments of matter:


Relation between Lifestyle and Body Composition among Young Females in Serbia of 18–29… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83586

• the protein component, as the basis for the contractile component responsible for locomotion, that is, movement [28].

In addition to these basic components of body composition, index indicators can be defined with the task of determining the relation between individual elements or even segmented relations between the same elements.

In existing research, the BMI has been presented as one of the crucial and basic parameters of obesity. The BMI presents the ratio of body high and body weight and is the simplest and most commonly used measure for determining body state of observed population and samples. Even though the BMI does not allow a detailed insight into the state and mutual relations of structural components such as the overall amount of fat or the distribution of fat in particular segments of the body, which can vary significantly within a normal values of body mass index [29], it has been shown that the values of this index had great influence on inflammatory and lipid markers (cardiovascular biomarkers) in a research that included a large number of women [30]. On the basis of results published by the Serbian Institute for Public Health, adult population in Serbia is among the highest worldwide by the number of persons and deaths from heart and blood vessels conditions, metabolic and malignant diseases, etc. [31, 32].

Owing to technological advancements, it is nowadays simple, fast, reliable, reproducible, and non-invasive to systematically follow morphological characteristic. Various methods are available to estimate or directly measure body composition. Measuring body composition with electric multichannel bioimpedance is a new generation technology that enables the direct measurement of the basic components of body composition. In addition to that, InBody 720 provides valid data in the simplest and non-invasive manner [27, 33].

Body fat, that is, the percentage of body fat, is the only component of body composition that has the tendency of increasing almost through entire lifespan [34, 35]. In addition to the biological influences related to aging [36], the change of the lifestyle of modern humans (reduced physical activity and increased energy intake) have caused an enormous increase of body fat to be one of the basic determinants of health or illness. As Gába et al. argue [37], the prevention of excessive gain in body mass-fat has become a public health priority in the developed countries, and in Serbia alike [38]. In contrast, the reduced muscle components of body composition are inevitable side effects of aging, whereby body mass remains the same or increases on the expense of fat [34, 39].

Besides the basic elements gained through a direct measurement of body composition, such as body fat, muscle mass, a very important scientific and medical role belongs to index indicators like muscle mass index and fat tissue index (SMM, FFMI, or FMI) [40].

Following the changes of body composition with different age groups is important not only for controlling the current status, but also for determining the trends of changes of the overall mass or particular parts of the given structure. At present, there is an increasing importance and need to systematically follow relevant indicators of body composition of sportspersons, persons exercising for recreational purposes or persons who do not exercise alike [41–43].

The aim of this article is to determine the influence of lifestyle and living habits to the characteristics of body composition among young females in Serbia. It is well-known that the habits one acquires from childhood to early adulthood are very important, since they present a fundamental personal foundation for a lifestyle one has in adulthood and maturity. Thus, this particular age group is a turning point for the final adoption of healthy or unhealthy life habits. Our secondary aim is defining a multidimensional model of dependence between body composition, lifestyle, and nutrition, which would enable programming of optimal patterns of behavior in both spaces, as a planned corrective measure.

prevalence at either high level or constantly rising. Despite a growing advancement in the last 30 years, coronary diseases, or more precisely coronary artery disease, remains the number one cause of death in Serbia, equally present among both males and females alike [2, 3]. The lack of physical activity has been recognized as one of the main causes of these diseases, and is considered as the primary risk factor, alongside

Obesity figures as one of—if not the—consequence of such lifestyle/insufficient physical activity that represents a well-known cause of early death [5], hypertension, coronary heart disease, lower quality of life and sleeping problems [6], and the World Health Organization rightfully deals with it as a global epidemic [7]. Therefore, obesity has become one of the biggest public health problems in the world [8] and it could develop into the leading public health problem in this century [9]. Since obesity can be defined as an excessive body fat content, and overweight as an excess of body mass relative to height [10], it can be closely related to the estimation of body composition which is very important not only for the determination of nutritional status in health conditions and in disease [11], but also in

The lifestyle of certain population groups, especially of young people, can lead to eating habits and insufficient physical activity that behave as risk factors in chronic diseases [14]. Modern societies then become characterized by the inactivity and sedentary lifestyle [15], which in turn gets reflected in the greatest amount of body fat, overweight, and obesity among the population, which are associated with a higher degree of risk of adverse health events and higher mortality [16, 17]. Young adults from 18 to 30 years of age are often in transition, graduating from high school, going to college, starting a new job, getting married, and forming a family. Often, these transitions are accompanied by potentially detrimental changes in lifestyle such as decreased physical activity, poor eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, and other unfavorable risk behaviors [18–20]. Nutrition and physical activity are of the utmost importance for health promotion. Eating habits and attitudes toward physical activity shape the lifestyle of an individual to the greatest extent, thus determining health, that is, the most common diseases of a modern man [21]. Regular physical activity has many health benefits for adults [22, 23]. But, surveillance data indicate that there is an agerelated decline in physical activity and that females are less active than males [23, 24]. Only 16% of female participants of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) aged between 18 and 29 reported an adequate amount of vigorous physical activity [23]. Longitudinal data from young adults further attests to the decline in physical activity in this age group [25, 26]. A significant drop in physical activity and increased sedentary

with smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure (hypertension) [4].

various fields such as nutrition, medicine, and sports sciences [12, 13].

habits largely influence the relation between body composition factors.

• the fat component, as the basic reserve of energy;

• the mineral component, as the solid body component; and,

Body composition is the term that defines the phenomenon of the biologicalmaterial composition of the body, that is, the set of substances that constitute the materially manifest structure of the human body [27]. The macro-level composition of the human body is represented by four biologically measurable segments of matter:

1.1 Contemporary lifestyle

Cardiorespiratory Fitness

1.2 Body composition

• water, as liquid;

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