Ever wondered what's beneath the numbers on the scale? An InBody scan goes beyond just measuring weight; it gives you a detailed look into your body’s unique composition. This powerful tool reveals insights into muscle, fat and water content, providing a fuller picture of your health.

So, how does an InBody scan work? Using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), it sends a gentle current through your body to gather data while you simply stand on the device. This fast, non-invasive scan reveals a detailed snapshot of your body composition—right down to areas like your arms, legs and trunk.

Ready to get a clearer picture of your health? Read on to learn the science behind InBody scans and how they can support your goals.

How Does InBody Scan Work? A Quick Overview

When you step on an InBody scanner and hold onto the handles, a gentle, unnoticeable electrical current flows through your body. This technology, called bioelectrical impedance analysis, measures how different tissues like muscle, fat and water respond to the current as it moves. By analysing how quickly the current passes through each type of tissue, the InBody scan creates a clear, detailed report of your body composition, breaking it down into segments like arms, legs and trunk.

Choose METS Performance Consulting for Your Personalised InBody Scan in Victoria

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of your body composition? METS Performance Consulting in Victoria is your local gateway to understanding what really goes on beneath the surface. Our InBody scans provide you with precise data about your muscle, fat and water ratios, so that you can make informed decisions about your health and fitness. Our expert team is ready to support you on your journey to wellness.

Don't wait to transform your health. Take the first step towards a fitter, healthier you by scheduling an InBody scan with us today. Contact us on 0401 250 195 or visit our contact page to book your scan.

What is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)?

BIA is a popular method for estimating body composition, specifically body water, fat and muscle mass. This technology works on a simple principle: hydrated tissues conduct electricity differently than fat, which is less hydrated. When a low-level electrical current moves through the body, it encounters resistance from various tissues, and this data is used to calculate body composition.

Developed in the 1960s, BIA was originally used in medical settings to monitor fluid balance in patients. Over time, it has become a valuable tool for health professionals and fitness enthusiasts to track progress in diet and exercise programs.

How to Prepare For an InBody Scan

Before undergoing an InBody scan, certain preparations are necessary to ensure accuracy in the results.

Hydrate Properly: Drink plenty of water in the 24 hours leading up to the scan. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol on the day of the test, as these can affect hydration levels and body composition measurements.
Food Intake: Avoid eating 3-4 hours before the scan to ensure that food does not influence the body composition results. If a scan is scheduled in the morning, consider fasting overnight for the most accurate results.
Clothing: Wear minimal, lightweight clothing, such as a t-shirt and shorts or leggings. Avoid wearing metal objects like belts, jewellery or watches, as metal can interfere with the electrical currents used during the scan.
Physical Activity: Avoid intense physical exercise 12 hours before the scan because it can alter body water levels and muscle inflammation.
Alcohol and Diuretics: Avoid alcohol and diuretics before the scan as they can dehydrate you, impacting the scan’s accuracy.
Consistency in Test Conditions: Try to schedule subsequent scans under similar conditions (time of day, hydration, meal timing) for consistent and comparable results.

Steps for an InBody Scan

The InBody scan is a fast and simple way to get a detailed look at your body composition using a specialised machine that prioritises both accuracy and safety. Here’s a quick step-by-step of what the process involves:

Step On the Device: Begin by stepping on the scale-like device that features integrated footplates. Ensure bare feet are properly aligned on the marked areas.
Grasp the Hand Electrodes: Hold onto the hand electrodes. Make sure your arms are slightly bent and not touching the sides of your body. This position helps keep the electrical current freely flowing through your entire body.
Initial Calibration: The device may take a few seconds to calibrate once you are in position. Stand still during this time to allow accurate readings.
Distribution of Electrical Current: A safe, low-level electrical current is emitted from the footplates and travels up through your body to the hand electrodes. The sensation is typically unnoticeable.
Data Collection: As the current moves through different types of tissues like muscles, fat and water, the device measures the resistance or impedance it encounters. This data is then used to calculate the composition of each tissue type.
Completion of Scan: The scanning process usually completes in less than a minute. Once done, you can step off the device.
Review Your Results: The machine will generate a report detailing your body composition, including percentages of body fat, muscle mass and water content, along with other valuable metrics.

How To Interpret Electrical Signals

Once the electrical current flows through your body, the InBody machine uses advanced algorithms to analyse the resistance it encounters at different frequencies. This helps the machine identify various tissue types, as muscle, fat and water have unique electrical properties.

By examining the current's speed and path, the scan provides valuable insights into visceral and subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle mass and total body water. This detailed information is essential for assessing your health and fitness levels, serving as a foundation for personalised health and exercise recommendations.

What Does the Scan Result Show?

The InBody scan report provides valuable insights, including:

Detailed body composition: Breakdown of fat and muscle metrics.

Segmental analysis: Evaluation of muscle and fat in the core, arms and legs to identify areas for conditioning or rehabilitation.
Body water levels: Important for monitoring fluid retention or dehydration.

This comprehensive information makes the InBody scan a useful tool for health monitoring and athletic training.

Benefits of Having Regular InBody Scans

Regular InBody scans provide valuable insights into your body composition that helps you understand your health and track progress over time. By monitoring changes in muscle, fat and water levels, you can make informed decisions about your diet, exercise and overall wellness. Some key benefits are:

Tailored Fitness Programs

InBody scans reveal how muscle mass is distributed across your body. This helps you create fitness programs that target specific areas. It also ensures you focus on strengthening or toning the parts that need it most, while also allowing trainers to adjust workouts for maximum effectiveness and safety.

Nutritional Adjustments

With InBody scans, you can see how your food choices impact your body composition. This makes it easier to decide whether to boost protein intake for muscle building or cut calories for fat loss. Nutritionists can use this information to offer personalised dietary advice, enhancing the results of your nutrition plans.

Health Risk Assessment

InBody scans measure body fat percentage and provide important data to evaluate the risk of health issues like obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. By identifying these risks early, you can make lifestyle changes—like improving your diet or increasing activity levels—to reduce health risks before they escalate.

Track Progress and Motivation

Seeing tangible results from your efforts can be incredibly motivating. Regular InBody scans offer visual evidence of improvements, such as reduced body fat or increased muscle mass, reinforcing the benefits of sticking to your health and fitness goals, especially during long-term journeys.

Recovery Monitoring

For athletes recovering from injuries, InBody scans help ensure recovery programs don't lead to muscle loss or imbalances. By tracking muscle mass, you can adjust your recovery strategies to align with your body's needs, aiding a balanced return to peak performance.

Long-term Health Monitoring

Over the years, InBody scans create a detailed record of your physical health. This ongoing tracking can reveal trends like gradual muscle loss or fat gain, prompting early intervention when necessary. Long-term monitoring is crucial for maintaining optimal health and preventing potential issues before they arise.

Summing Up

InBody scans are a powerful tool for gaining insights into your body composition and overall health. Regularly monitoring changes in muscle, fat and water levels allows for the tailoring of fitness programs, informed nutritional adjustments and effective assessment of health risks. These scans do not just help track your progress and keep you motivated but also support recovery during injury and provide long-term health monitoring. Embracing InBody scans can empower you to make proactive decisions for a healthier, fitter future.