What is Body Composition?

Body composition is the body’s amount of fat relative to fat-free mass. Individuals with optimal body composition are typically healthier, move more easily and efficiently, and generally feel better. Although a certain amount of body fat is needed to ensure good health, excess body fat has been found to dramatically increase the risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Monitoring body weight alone can be misleading because a scale can’t tell the difference between a pound of fat and a pound of muscle. Sedentary people may gain fat and lose muscle without any noticeable change in their weight. Conversely, individuals who exercise may not experience a large change in weight, yet their muscle mass is likely increasing at the same time as they are also losing body fat. A body composition analysis reveals these important shifts in body composition that a scale cannot. Your results will be discussed with you. This test is particularly helpful when used to establish a baseline and then periodically after starting or tweaking an exercise program or making dietary changes.

Body composition and growth are key components of health in both individuals and populations. The ongoing epidemic of obesity in children and adults has highlighted the importance of understanding body fat levels for short-term and long-term health. However, other components of body composition also influence health outcomes, and its measurement is increasingly valuable in clinical practice.

The Modern Assessment Of Health

When you’re thinking of losing weight or simply want to see how healthy you are, you probably do one of two things: step on a scale or calculate your BMI. But the truth is, these methods don’t tell you anything about how healthy you are– all weight and BMI do is compare how heavy you are to a standard that doesn’t fit your individual goals.

When you’re trying to get healthier, you’re most likely going to lose fat and (hopefully) gain muscle. But BMI and weight don’t differentiate between muscle and fat. So how can you? Through body composition analysis.

Body composition analysis is a method of describing what the body is made of, differentiating between fat, protein, minerals, and body water to give you a snapshot of your health. InBody is in the business of body composition analysis, and we’re here to teach you the importance of it in today’s day and age to help you reach your health goals from the inside out.

Why do you need to differentiate between muscle and fat?

Health practitioners universally agree that too much fat is a serious health risk. Problems such as hypertension, elevated blood lipids (fats and cholesterol), diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, gallbladder disease, and a myriad of other health problems are all related to obesity.

The ongoing epidemic of obesity in children and adults has highlighted the importance of knowing a person’s body fat for short-term and long-term health. An important part of understanding a user’s health is differentiating between what is healthy and what is not, especially when it comes to fat.

It’s common to assume that having as little fat as possible is healthy. However, being thin does not automatically reduce one’s health risk. Being thin refers to weighing less than the recommended values in age-height-weight tables. Leanness, however, refers to the muscle, bone, and fat composition of one’s body weight. Being lean intrinsically indicates greater muscle mass development than being thin.

What are the dangers of not knowing your body composition?

A healthy balance between fat and muscle is vital for health and wellness throughout life. Scientific evidence shows that a healthy body composition will increase your lifespan; reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, insulin resistance, etc.; increase energy levels, and improve self-esteem.

Complications of Obesity

• Early mortality
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Pregnancy complications
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep apnea
• Increased LDL & triglycerides
• Decreased HDL
• Impaired heart function
• Impaired immune function

Complications of Low Body Fat

• Poor insulation
• Minimal energy stores
• Lack of cushioning for organs
• Poor cardiovascular function
• Prone to illness
• Poor recovery from exercise/illness
• Low testosterone
• Weak muscles
• Loss of bone density
• Amenorrhea

Complications of Low Muscle Mass (Sarcopenia)

• Frailty
• Starvation
• Poor insulin resistance/glycemic control
• Metabolic problems increase
• Osteoporosis
• Hormone dysregulation
• Low strength
• Higher risk of hospitalization