Expert: Ryan Hale - 5/3/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi i am a club soccer player and a female.  I am fifteen about 5'4 to 5'5 and 102 pounds I exercise every day and weightlift every other day. Am I healthy?

ANSWER: Loren-  It's impossible to say from the information I have.  i would like to send a few reminders I've learned about teen soccer players.  First, you run between 3 and 10 miles during the course of a practice or match.  Keep that in mind if you play in more than one league at a time or are doing training on your own outside of team practice.  Take time off, at least one day per week and at least a month off a couple times per year or a couple consecutive months if you are playing most of the rest of the year.  That doesn't mean no activity.  Take the first part of your time off to sit and do nothing and second part to do other activities such as swimming, cycling, yoga and weight training.  You can't be at peak form year-round.  This is especially true if you are playing on multiple teams/leagues.  Also, food is your fuel.  You've got to feed the machine.  There may be days where you'll burn a few thousand calories.  You've got to put fuel in the tank so make sure you aren't withholding food.  Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what information would you need to determine If i am healthy?

Answer
Loren- the most important thing when it comes to weight is body composition.   That is, what percentage of your body is body fat.  The body fat percentage is more important than body mass index (or BMI).  The BMI doesn't take into account people who are athletic or with a muscular build.  For example, a body builder with 2% body fat is considered obese using the BMI.  The best way to do a body fat percentage is hydrostatic weighing which is done in a pool, however, the various scans used are quite good too.  You could also have someone with plenty of experience doing skin calipers and get a good idea.  The calipers are often available at health clubs and clinics, but the person doing it needs to have lots of experience doing it to get a good reading.

Other things to consider is your medical history and that of your family.  A good medical exam with blood work and a food log that spans at least a week to see what your diet is like are all important as well.

Rather than trying to decide if you are thin or fat though I'd get a body fat percentage measurement done by my medical provider.