Your percent body fat does not involve your weight, but uses a special technique to determine your percent body fat by using skinfold calipers, underwater weighing or electrical impedance. Body fat is necessary in moderation as the body uses it for insulation, protection and fuel. The percentage of body fat is a better indicator of your fitness than your weight according to the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research in Dallas, Texas. In other words, for longevity in life, your fitness level is far more important than your weight. Flexibility is another important aspect of fitness that many times is overlooked until an injury occurs.
Flexibility is defined as the range of motion around a joint.
With increased flexibility, you are able to work muscles over a greater range of motion. Static stretching is a stretch that is held for 10-30 seconds whereas with a ballistic stretch you bounce to try to stretch further. This can lead to an injury, possibly a pulled muscle. Muscular strength and endurance are important for doing many tasks in your everyday life as well as during recreation. By exercising and addressing the four fitness components during your workouts, recent research shows that proper exercise has an effect on your quality of life as you age.