Body Composition Analysis
Bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, is a simple, quick, non-painful and non-invasive measure of body composition. Knowing a person’s body composition, such as body fat percentage, is considered a far more accurate and informative way to measure health and disease risk compared to a stand-alone weight measurement, or outdated measurements such as BMI (Body Mass Index).
Body composition can also be used to track change and progress over time, set more specific goals and targets, help keep you more motivated, provides your practitioner more scientifically validated information, and help support behavioural and lifestyle changes.
How Does it Work?
BIA works by sending a weak electrical impulse through the body to estimate body composition by measuring the difference in resistance between the electrical current that passes through fat and lean areas of the body. Lean tissue like muscle and bone has a higher fluid content which means electrical conductivity is usually greater. This means the impulse passes through more easily. The opposite is seen with fat mass. Depending on the machine, certain mathematical equations and formulas are applied to make a prediction.
What We Use and How We Use It
At Darwin Nutrition & Dietetics Clinic we use an InBody 770, a top of the range device and leader in body composition analysis.
From your scan, we can provide a number of measurements including:
Percentage body fat
Skeletal muscle mass and fat free mass
Abdominal (visceral) fat
Muscle and fat distribution
Basal metabolic rate
Cellular health
Hydration status
In order to make the scans more accurate, we recommend people perform the follow protocol in the lead up to their scans:
Empty bladder and bowel just prior
Avoid eating or drinking at least 2-hrs prior to scan (ideally 4)
Avoid drinking alcohol the night before
No strenuous exercise or activities within 12 hours
No females who perceive they are retaining water
Remove all jewellery, piercings or any other metal objects
Wear light clothing free from metals (zips, studs, belts, wire bras etc)
No pacemakers or other internal metal devices
Do not perform if you are pregnant or could be pregnant
