Body Composition Analysis

Understanding your body composition is one of the most accurate ways to assess your overall health and risk of disease. At Darwin Nutrition & Dietetics Clinic, we use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) — a fast, safe, and non-invasive method to measure body composition, including body fat percentage, muscle mass, and more.

Unlike traditional metrics like body weight or Body Mass Index (BMI), which can be misleading, BIA offers a clearer picture of your physical health by showing what your body is truly made of — fat, muscle, bone, and water.

Why Body Composition Matters

Knowing your body composition allows you to:

  • Accurately assess health and disease risk

  • Monitor changes in fat and muscle mass over time

  • Set more specific, personalised goals

  • Stay motivated with measurable progress

  • Give your practitioner scientifically validated data to guide treatment

  • Support long-term behavioural and lifestyle changes

Whether you’re managing your weight, improving fitness, or addressing specific health concerns, understanding your body composition helps track meaningful progress — not just numbers on a scale.

Shows the InBody770 bioelectrical impedance analysis machine used in the clinic to measure body composition.

How Does Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Work?

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) estimates body composition by sending a low, painless electrical current through the body. This current travels at different speeds depending on the type of tissue it encounters:

  • Lean tissue (muscle, bone, and water-rich areas) conducts electricity well

  • Fat tissue resists the current and slows it down

The BIA device measures this resistance and, using validated formulas, calculates an estimate of your body composition, including:

  • Body fat percentage

  • Muscle mass

  • Total body water

  • Visceral fat (fat surrounding internal organs)

Results are available within minutes and can be used to track changes over time.

 

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 (BMR)

  • 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

Shows an example results page of the InBody body composition scan.

Cost

Body Composition Scan            $45

        

Book Appointment

Ready to go beyond the scale? Book a scan today and gain deeper insight into your health. Whether you’re beginning your wellness journey or fine-tuning your performance, our expert dietitians are here to help you make informed decisions based on real data. 

Please note, body composition scans can only be performed at the Palmerston clinic