In the past, people relied on height-weight tables that were based on insurance company mortality statistics, but these were inaccurate because

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Muscle tissue is denser than adipose (fat) tissue, so a given volume of muscle weighs more than the same volume of fat. This density difference is the key concept explaining why simple height‑weight tables based on mortality data were misleading.

Relevant concepts:
- Density and composition: muscle (~1.06 g/mL) is denser than fat (~0.9 g/mL), so two people of identical body volume can have different weights depending on muscle vs. fat proportions.
- Body composition vs. body weight: total weight alone does not indicate health or fitness; lean body mass and fat mass matter.
- Bias in population statistics: insurance mortality data reflect broad populations without detailed body‑composition measures.

Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Height‑weight tables used only two variables (height and weight) to judge “ideal” weight ranges derived from mortality correlations. They ignored how weight is partitioned between lean tissue and fat.
2. Because muscle is denser, a muscular (fit) person can weigh more than a less fit person of the same height who carries more fat. The table would classify the muscular person as overweight even though their body fat is lower and health risk is less.
3. Therefore the tables misclassified many fit individuals and failed to capture the true relationship between body composition and mortality risk.

Why the correct answer is correct:
“Muscle weighs more than fat” captures the essential reason height‑weight tables are inaccurate: they fail to account for differences in tissue density and lean mass, so people with higher muscle mass are penalized by a simple weight standard.

Why the other choices are incorrect:
- “Fat weighs more than muscle.” False: fat is less dense than muscle, so per unit volume fat weighs less.
- “Fit people tend to weigh less than people who are not fit.” Not generally true; fit people often weigh more or the same because of greater muscle mass.
- “A person who is not fit may have a higher bone density than a person who is fit.” Generally false: weight‑bearing activity tends to increase bone density, so fit people usually have equal or higher bone density.

Conclusion: The best answer is “muscle weighs more than fat,” which matches the provided correct answer.

In the past, people relied on height-weight tables that were based on insurance company mortality statistics, but these were inaccurate becauseSingle choice

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