Knowing your body composition helps you improve your health and change your life for the better. At NutriD, registered dietitian Diana Rafailova uses the state-of-the-art InBody 570 machine to measure your body composition. She uses this information to help develop a diet plan and lifestyle recommendations for you to achieve an optimal weight and energy level. Contact the office or use the online booking agent to schedule your body composition testing today.
Your weight is not the most accurate way to determine if you’re at a healthy size. It’s important to understand the makeup of that weight through your body composition. It tells you the percentage of fat, fat-free mass, minerals, and water that exists in your body.
A healthy body has a higher percentage of lean, or muscle, tissue and a lower level of fat. You need some body fat for proper function, but too much increases your risk of chronic disease.
Fat-free mass includes your lean tissue, but also your organs and body water. Any tissue that is not fat can be put into the category of fat-free mass. Fat-free mass, particularly muscle, is denser than fat, so the more muscular you are, the leaner and slimmer you appear, regardless of your actual weight.
Fat-free mass also tends to be more metabolically active than fat, so it’s easier to maintain your weight when you have a higher percentage of lean tissue. Fat mass is inflammatory, prompting negative responses from your endocrine and immune systems.
Using the InBody 570 is a noninvasive way to measure your body composition. You stand barefoot on the machine and hold the handles. The electrodes send low-level electrical currents through the body that are then used to calculate how much fat and muscle you have. It also tells Diana other important measures such as your total body water, your intracellular water, and extracellular water.
The measurement process takes just a few minutes and is safe and comfortable. It’s just like standing on a scale, because you don’t feel the bioelectrical impedance measurement taking place.
Knowing your water levels is important for understanding your body’s fluid distribution. Extracellular water is found outside your cells, primarily in your blood. Intracellular water is found within your cells, and it supports metabolic processes. An imbalance between intracellular and extracellular water can indicate inflammation, kidney problems, or unhealthy fat mass levels.
Diana uses the information from InBody 570 to help make dietary recommendations. It informs the composition of macronutrients -- specifically carbohydrates, proteins, and fat -- you should aim to consume daily. It can also help her understand if you’re at greater risk of chronic disease and would benefit from an anti-inflammatory diet that includes ample antioxidants.
*Individual results may vary