BIO-ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS (BIA)
BODY FAT - BODY COMPOSITION TESTING
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What is Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA)?
Answer: The bodystat machine that I use uses the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technique. This method measures body composition by sending a low, safe electrical current through the body. The current passes freely through the fluids contained in muscle tissue, but encounters difficulty/resistance when it passes through fat tissue.
This resistance of the fat tissue to the current is termed 'bioelectrical impedance', and is accurately measured by the bodystat machine. When set against a person's height, gender and weight, the bodystat machine can then compute their body fat percentage as well as various other measurements including fat weight, lean percentage, lean weight (Muscle, Water, Bone) water percentage, total body water, dry lean weight (Muscle, Bone), Basal metabolic rate (At rest and Activity levels) (BMR) , Body weight, Estimated average requirement, Body mass index (BMI), Waist / Hip ratio.
Note: There are various different forms of BIA including the hand held devices and the scales which you stand on. The hand held devices and the scales are far less superior in accuracy and reliability then the Bodystat machine. The bodystat machine method is what is used in hospitals for greater accuracy and reproducible results.
This resistance of the fat tissue to the current is termed 'bioelectrical impedance', and is accurately measured by the bodystat machine. When set against a person's height, gender and weight, the bodystat machine can then compute their body fat percentage as well as various other measurements including fat weight, lean percentage, lean weight (Muscle, Water, Bone) water percentage, total body water, dry lean weight (Muscle, Bone), Basal metabolic rate (At rest and Activity levels) (BMR) , Body weight, Estimated average requirement, Body mass index (BMI), Waist / Hip ratio.
Note: There are various different forms of BIA including the hand held devices and the scales which you stand on. The hand held devices and the scales are far less superior in accuracy and reliability then the Bodystat machine. The bodystat machine method is what is used in hospitals for greater accuracy and reproducible results.
What is Body composition? Is it important?
Answer: Body composition is the amount of lean and fat that makes up total body weight. Lean comprises muscle, bone and water. Whatever the total weight, lean and fat proportions need to be within established recommended limits in order to avoid the many health problems associated with being "over-fat".
These include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, coronary disease, respiratory problems and kidney disorders. Equally serious, however, is the problem of having too little body fat, since adipose tissue is vital for normal organic function. The dramatic increase in anorexia nervosa, bulimia and a "fear of obesity" over the last decade demands an awareness of correct body composition.
Therefore, fat weight, NOT total weight, determines health risk and needs to be measured for balanced body composition.
These include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, coronary disease, respiratory problems and kidney disorders. Equally serious, however, is the problem of having too little body fat, since adipose tissue is vital for normal organic function. The dramatic increase in anorexia nervosa, bulimia and a "fear of obesity" over the last decade demands an awareness of correct body composition.
Therefore, fat weight, NOT total weight, determines health risk and needs to be measured for balanced body composition.
Why the need to measure body composition?
Answer: Tracking the changes of body composition can help to determine whether any weight management nutritional program or exercise program is having the desired effect in that fat weight is reducing and/or lean weight is increasing.
Remember that it is lean muscle mass, rich in potassium, that burns the kilocalories. Fat people have little muscle and hence lack the ability to "burn off" the excess kilocalories which in turn is stored as excess fat.
As one gets older, one should not want to lose this muscle mass (which in most cases inevitably happens) since you may instead put on fat weight.
As people grow older, particularly over the ages of 55 to 60 years, the body becomes more susceptible to disease due to the natural loss of lean muscle mass. This process may be accelerated unless the person exercises regularly and eats a healthy and balanced diet.
Sports people are always concerned about being over-fat when trying to achieve peak performance and in training they need to ensure that they reach and maintain their desired fat and hydration levels.
Regular monitoring of body composition, can contribute towards the achievement of these goals.
Remember that it is lean muscle mass, rich in potassium, that burns the kilocalories. Fat people have little muscle and hence lack the ability to "burn off" the excess kilocalories which in turn is stored as excess fat.
As one gets older, one should not want to lose this muscle mass (which in most cases inevitably happens) since you may instead put on fat weight.
As people grow older, particularly over the ages of 55 to 60 years, the body becomes more susceptible to disease due to the natural loss of lean muscle mass. This process may be accelerated unless the person exercises regularly and eats a healthy and balanced diet.
Sports people are always concerned about being over-fat when trying to achieve peak performance and in training they need to ensure that they reach and maintain their desired fat and hydration levels.
Regular monitoring of body composition, can contribute towards the achievement of these goals.
Aren't conventional weighing scales good enough?
Answer: No
When only total body weight is measured by a conventional weighing scale, the weight may not have altered between measurement dates. Thus one is really unable to analyse what is happening to the body, i.e. changes in the body composition.
Weight measurement is a traditional means of determining whether or not someone is carrying too little or too much fat weight. Unless the weight is extreme, the difficulty comes in deciding what is too little or too much.
Various methods exist to aid in this decision such as simple height/weight tables or ones which allow for Frame Size (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 1959 and 1983 tables) and the Body Mass Index (BMI).
All of these have some drawback since weight is also influenced by factors such as bone thickness, muscularity and length of trunk relative to total height.
The BODYSTAT method determines a more direct measurement of the body’s fat content which allows a more accurate and personalised weight range to be determined specific to the individual being measured. This is termed the COMPOSITION method of determining the optimal weight range of a subject.
A body builder, as an extreme example, could be 23 kg (50 lbs) overweight according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance (or other) weight tables based on age and height with a BMI of above 25 (Over weight). His actual body composition analysis, however, could comprise of 90% lean and only 10% fat. Under NO circumstances
could this subject be regarded as fat or "overweight" as his body composition is excellent.
After all, the key to healthy body status is not "normal" total weight but correct body composition. If lean and fat weights are in the correct proportion it does not really matter what a person weighs.
When only total body weight is measured by a conventional weighing scale, the weight may not have altered between measurement dates. Thus one is really unable to analyse what is happening to the body, i.e. changes in the body composition.
Weight measurement is a traditional means of determining whether or not someone is carrying too little or too much fat weight. Unless the weight is extreme, the difficulty comes in deciding what is too little or too much.
Various methods exist to aid in this decision such as simple height/weight tables or ones which allow for Frame Size (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 1959 and 1983 tables) and the Body Mass Index (BMI).
All of these have some drawback since weight is also influenced by factors such as bone thickness, muscularity and length of trunk relative to total height.
The BODYSTAT method determines a more direct measurement of the body’s fat content which allows a more accurate and personalised weight range to be determined specific to the individual being measured. This is termed the COMPOSITION method of determining the optimal weight range of a subject.
A body builder, as an extreme example, could be 23 kg (50 lbs) overweight according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance (or other) weight tables based on age and height with a BMI of above 25 (Over weight). His actual body composition analysis, however, could comprise of 90% lean and only 10% fat. Under NO circumstances
could this subject be regarded as fat or "overweight" as his body composition is excellent.
After all, the key to healthy body status is not "normal" total weight but correct body composition. If lean and fat weights are in the correct proportion it does not really matter what a person weighs.
How can I book a body fat / body composition test? Do I have to be a client of yours to have a test?
Answer: Body composition test are exclusively for my clients.
A free body composition test comes with every package, with some packages entitling you to two free test.
You can book extra test at any stage by either filling out the form on the "Contact" page, sending me an email or by calling me directly. You will get a reply back from me on the same day.
A free body composition test comes with every package, with some packages entitling you to two free test.
You can book extra test at any stage by either filling out the form on the "Contact" page, sending me an email or by calling me directly. You will get a reply back from me on the same day.