Water Basics
This percentage range of an adult’s body weight is typically made up of water.
One of the easiest at-home indicators of hydration status is the color of this bodily fluid.
What is urine?
This term refers to the relative amounts of fat mass and fat-free mass in the body.
What is body composition?
This type of body tissue is the main storage site for excess energy in the form of fat.
What is adipose tissue?
This term describes the body’s state when water loss exceeds water intake.
What is dehydration?
Thirst, dry mouth, and dark-colored urine are common signs of this mild to moderate condition.
What is mild to moderate dehydration?
This word screening tool uses height and weight to categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
What is BMI (Body Mass Index)?
Compared with fat tissue, this type of tissue (like muscle) contains more water by percentage.
What is lean tissue (or muscle tissue)?
These are the two main fluid compartments in the body, one inside cells and one outside.
What are intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid?
Along with water, these positively charged minerals such as sodium and potassium help maintain fluid balance and nerve function.
What are electrolytes?
This type of body tissue is about 73% water and helps explain why more muscular individuals carry more body water.
What is lean tissue (or muscle tissue)?
This organ is the primary long-term regulator of water balance by adjusting how much water is excreted in urine.
What are the kidneys?
This condition can occur when a person drinks large amounts of water without replacing sodium, causing blood sodium to become dangerously low.
What is hyponatremia (water intoxication)?
Unlike BMI, this measurement around the abdomen gives information about central (visceral) fat and risk for chronic disease.
What is waist circumference?
This hormone, released from the pituitary gland, signals the kidneys to conserve water and produce more concentrated urine.
What is antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?
This age group is at higher risk for dehydration because of a reduced thirst sensation.
Older Adults
This method of measuring body composition sends a small electrical current through the body; resistance to the current is used to estimate total body water and body fat.
What is bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)?