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Body Composition
Multiple choice questions

Please choose one correct answer

1. “Normal weight” of the human body consists approximately of:

a) 98% oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and calcium

b) 68% oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and calcium
c) 38% oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and calcium
d) 28% carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and calcium
e) None of the above

2. The contribution (in grams) of muscle to the overall body composition of a 70kg
reference man is:

a) 16
b) 18
c) 28
d) 68
e) None of the above

3. What is the cut-off point for BMI for underweight humans?

a) <17
b) <18.5
c) <19.5
d) <21.5
e) None of the above

4. What is the normal range for BMI in humans?

a) 19–25
b) 18–24
c) 18.5–24.9
d) 18.2–24.2
e) None of the above

5. Variations in body composition between individuals are mainly due to variations in:

a) Waist circumference
b) Fat mass
c) Total body water
d) Height
 6. What % of body weight (reference man of 70kg) is accounted for by oxygen and
carbon?

a) Oxygen 55, carbon 40

b) Oxygen 74, carbon 12
c) Oxygen 61, carbon 23
d) Oxygen 23, carbon 61

7. In a normal weight healthy female adult, the amount of body fat varies between:

a) 12–20%
b) 15–55%
c) 5–42%
d) 15–35%

8. Which of the following statement is true:

a) At a molecular level, for a 70kg reference man, protein makes up 14.4% of

their body weight.
b) At a molecular level, for a 70kg reference man, protein makes up 5.3% of
their body weight.
c) At a molecular level, for a 70kg reference man, protein makes up 34.4% of
their body weight.
d) At a molecular level, for a 70kg reference man, protein makes up 26.4% of
their body weight.

9. What are the two main minerals in the body, predominantly present in bone?

a) Calcium and phosphorus

b) Calcium and zinc
c) Zinc and phosphorus
d) Calcium and boron

The Nutrition Society Textbook Series, Introduction to Human Nutrition, Second Edition
© 2009, 2002 by The Nutrition Society.
Answers

1. A.

2. C.

3. B.

4. C.

5. B.

6. C.

7. D.

8. A.

9. A.