Which BEST describes body composition?

• A. The amount of weight you can lift without fatigue
• B. The degree to which you can bend
• C. The proportion of fat versus fat-free mass
• D. Your waist circumference

Answer: (C)

Body composition is the proportion of fat mass to fat-free mass in the body, which includes muscle, bone, organs, and body water. This concept matters because two people can weigh the same but have very different mixes of fat and lean tissue, leading to different health risks and athletic capabilities. The best description among the options is the one that emphasizes the relative amounts of fat and fat-free mass, since it captures the meaningful difference in what makes up the body. The other ideas describe separate fitness elements—strength (how much you can lift), flexibility (how far you can bend), and a measurement of abdominal size (waist circumference)—which don’t define body composition itself.