Most of us know that body weight and body mass index (BMI) measurements alone are not an accurate representation of health or physique.
Phrases like “big boned,” “wide framed,” “water weight,” and “muscle is heavier than fat,” are often used to explain why the scale itself is not a good enough measure of fat in the body; which is true.
This fact has led to the development of many other techniques to better gauge body composition and understand the fraction of body weight that pertains to fat.
Examples include hydrostatic weighing and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which can be very accurate, but are often expensive, inconvenient, and time-consuming.
The InBody 770 machine, however, can provide an accurate analysis of body composition in 1 minute and it is now available at Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab.
What is the InBody?
Results include analyses of body composition, muscle-fat, a segmental lean analysis, and a ratio of extracellular water to total body water (ECW/TBW). According to the Professional’s Guide to the InBody Result Sheet, the breakdown is as follows-
Body Composition Analysis
Here, body weight is broken down into Body Fat Mass (visceral and subcutaneous), Dry Lean Mass (like muscle, organs, and bones) and Total Body Water (water inside and outside cells).
Muscle-Fat Analysis
These results provide a comparison of a person’s weight, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass in relation to other individuals of the same height and gender.
Here, the amount of body fat and skeletal muscles of an individual can help them determine their fitness and dietary goals and whether they are in a healthy range, obese, or even malnourished.
Segmental Lean Analysis
This breaks down the amount of muscle mass in both arms, legs, and in the trunk. The person can see where they hold the most muscle mass, where they might want to improve, and if there are imbalances between the left and right sides of the body.
Other measures given by the InBody machine include the amount of visceral fat, amount of fat per segment of the body, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and many more.
Not only is this detailed breakdown of body composition useful to individuals, but when coupled with advice from exercise experts, nutrition counselors, and physicians, a person can improve their health and reach their goals knowing they are doing so safely.
Why is InBody Better and Worthwhile?
Focusing on body composition rather than overall weight loss is more supportive of healthy loss and gain, as well as overall health. Body composition allows a person to focus on reducing body fat rather than overall weight loss.
This may also include a loss of muscle mass, water weight from dehydration (think caffeinated sport drinks and weight loss pills) and loss of bone density from inadequate exercise and restrictive diets.
Knowing body composition, therefore, grants an individual more control over health and allows them to make better decisions in regards to weight loss rather than detrimental ones.
Periodically getting a body composition report and coupling this with expert advice can help an individual track their progress when it comes to fat loss, muscle gain, water balance and metabolic rate.
InBody is trusted by many reputable institutions for its accuracy and simplicity, including hospitals and NASA. We are the one and only integrative wellness center offering InBody right here in Santa Cruz County.
Combined with expert advice and services such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), the Vasper System, and non-surgical joint regeneration techniques like prolotherapy, we are able to deliver the CORE Advantage and lead our patients to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
References-
- THE PROFESSIONAL’ S GUIDE TO THE INBODY RESULT SHEET. (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2021, from https://uk.inbody.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/The_Professional_s_Guide_to_the_InBody_Result_Sheet.pdf