measurements. Your body's fat free mass consists of all tissue that is not fat. This is further
broken down into two key components - body cell mass and extracellular mass. Body cell
mass is the metabolically active tissue inside cells of the body or where your "metabolism"
resides. Extracellular mass is the fluid and tissue found outside of cells.
Research has shown that body composition correlates directly to a continuum of health
ranging from mortality and morbidity to longevity and high function. The purpose of body
composition analysis is to assess and improve function in conjunction with appropriate
treatment plans.
Body composition may be altered or harmed by high fat/high sugar diets, lack of
exercise, overeating, alcohol, stress, medications, metabolic disease and more.
Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is assessment of body composition using the electrical
conduction properties of body tissue. The computer utilizes small electrical currents with
known abilities to penetrate or to be stored by certain tissues within the body. The
information is gathered by small electrodes and interpreted by a microprocessor to provide
various body composition readings. The computer prints out a reading of values including:
lean body mass, fat mass, body mass index, basal metabolic rate,
intracellular/extracellular water content, total body water and more.
Altered body composition is found in many health conditions including obesity, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, HIV, age related disorders, eating disorders, cancer and
many others. BIA can be used to follow patients through treatment protocols for improving
poor health as well as improving existing good health.
BIA is growing in popularity based on research findings showing it's efficacy. Periodic
testing should accompany any nutritional, medication, physical activity, stress management,
anti-aging, weight management and virtually any other health care protocol!!!
