Why we use InBody scans
Dawson Persons
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At Rise, it is important that our members can see and track their progress objectively as much as they feel it subjectively. One of the best ways to stay consistent within your fitness journey is to quantitatively measure your progress. This not only makes sure that you are staying the course, but also provides motivation to do so.
One of the ways that we have consistently helped members track progress is by offering free InBody scans every 3–4 months. An InBody scan is a way to not only track your body weight, but body composition as well. In our view, it is much more beneficial to see how your overall body composition has changed over time, not just how the scale has moved.
So what is an InBody scan and how does it work? How accurate is it? Let’s answer these questions one at a time.
What is an InBody scan?
An InBody uses “direct multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance measurements to assess body composition without relying on population-based estimations.” What that means is that it sends a low-frequency electrical signal through your body that is able to detect Fat-Free-Mass (bones, muscle, tendons, etc.) and Fat-Mass. How does it detect the difference? Fat-Free-Mass is able to conduct an electrical signal due to the water it holds, while Fat-Mass cannot.
This means that the InBody can scan your body and produce your body composition reports without relying wholly on empirical data and equations.
How accurate is the InBody?
Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends… Because the InBody is able to detect between Fat-Free-Mass and Fat-Mass, this means that there are a number of ways that the results could get skewed. But with a consistent system, these errors can be limited. Here are ways to help ensure that your scan is as accurate as possible.
Tips for an accurate InBody scan
Hydrate before the InBody
Use the restroom before scanning
Try to scan before consuming food, or at least three hours after eating
Only scan before exercise, not after
Scan without bulky clothing, jewelry, or socks
Try to scan at roughly the same time of day each time
Even with these tips, it is still possible that there may be other factors that could skew results. So we caution our clients not to be discouraged by a 1–2% change, as this may be caused by statistical error.
Why we use the InBody
We use it because we value the in-depth look it can give us into body composition. When evaluating a member’s progress, we also consider a myriad of other data, both qualitative and quantitative, such as how a member is feeling, their energy levels, their weight, mobility and range of motion, and many other factors. But what the InBody tells us is extremely important and is often data that we cannot discover in any other way. While the scale may give us a number and the mirror may reflect an image, these don’t show us what is going on inside. It is important to remember that resistance training is the catalyst for numerous physiological adaptations within the body, and not all of these can be witnessed on the outside.
For example, if a member starts training with us and sees that the scale number goes up (a normal occurrence, as muscles hold onto more water and weigh more than fat), they may feel disappointed. But the InBody can show that this weight gain is actually a healthy, desired gain. At Rise, we celebrate muscle gain in our clients because we know how incredibly important muscle mass is for overall health. The InBody gives us the comprehensive insight we need to be able to assess muscle mass, and tailor our members’ training plans so we can continue moving in the right direction.
If you’re interested in learning more about your body composition and what it means for your health, we’d love to meet with you in our Free Fitness Consultation, where we perform an optional InBody scan, a movement evaluation, and a meeting with one of our coaches to discuss health history, goals, and if Rise is a good fit for you.