What is an InBody?

What is the InBody?

The InBody is a device that allows us to estimate your body composition, predominantly muscle and fat. This tool works off of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). That means that it runs a small electrical current throughout your body (you won’t feel it!). Muscle and fat hold water differently, so the current moves differently through them. By measuring resistance and plugging it into a coded equation, this produces a sense for quantity and distribution of fat, muscle and water throughout the body.

What does the InBody measure?

The report printed after the test shows us a variety of things. We can see body fat percentage and lean muscle mass; how muscle and fat are distributed through your body; imbalances between limbs or body segments; water retention; visceral fat levels (fat around your organs). From this, we can assess your overall health and disease risk, and, if need be, strategize how to shift these numbers on future tests.

What is the test like?

First, you take off your shoes and any jewelry or belts, wipe your hands and feet to ensure ideal contact with the electrodes, and step on the machine. Place your feet and hands on the electrodes as directed. The machine will take your weight, and your trainer will enter your age, height, sex and ID number for future tracking. When the scan begins, you stay still and silent - this lasts about a minute. Then, your result sheet is printed and your trainer will meet with you to break everything down!

How long does a test take?

The test takes about a minute!

How often should I test?

This is up to the individual’s wants and needs as well as the trainer’s progression schedule. Most people will test every couple of weeks. In addition to hard copy results, we can store your results in the machine, and use them to produce a bigger picture of results over time.

What should I do/not do before testing?

Do: Maintain normal fluid intake; stand upright for at least 5 minutes; remove jewelry, belts, jackets, etc.; warm up for 20 minutes if weather is cold; use the bathroom

Do not: Eat/exercise for at least 3 hours before; consume alcohol or excess caffeine for at least 24 hours (normal caffeine intake is okay); use shower or sauna; use lotion on hands/feet.

Who should take the test?

Most people can take an InBody test! It’s a great way to help us program for you most efficiently and can be very rewarding as you see your results change. It is not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with an artificial electrical implant (ex) pacemaker). You may also want to avoid taking the test or at least not look at the results yourself if you struggle with negative feelings around weight/tracking.

Is the InBody accurate?

As with any tool, the InBody gives us an estimate at what is going on in your body. It is by no means a fool-proof measurement, and it can be affected by a lot of factors such as hydration, food intake, activity, and temperature. We use it to get an initial idea of what’s going on in your body and also to establish a baseline metric with which to compare future measurements. So, though it may have a small margin of error, for our uses it is accurate enough to help us set and track goals.

When can I set up a test?

Both Portsmouth and Newburyport have InBody scanners now! To set up a test, simply contact us and let us know you are interested in scheduling a time.