Body Composition Analysis

Body Composition Analysis - BMI (Body Mass Index)

Generally, lifestyle modifications (exercise and healthy eating) are recommended to lose excess weight or maintain a healthy weight. If your BMI is 30 or over, you may qualify for prescription anti-obesity medications. If your BMI is 27 -29 and you have a weight related medical condition (e.g. high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, or diabetes) you may qualify for prescription anti-obesity medications. Remember, BMI (body mass index) is only one measure of your overall health status and other health and medical information should be taken into consideration. Also, an individual can have a BMI in the “normal range” and not be metabolically healthy.

Click here to calculate your BMI.

Advanced full body multi-frequency analysis is the most accurate bio-electrical impedance analysis technology available. This is the test I perform in my office. The correlation coefficient compared to isotope dilution is R=0.97.

This body composition analysis gives you important information and is essential in following your weight loss journey. This information is useful as a baseline before starting a weight loss program and at regular intervals to monitor weight loss. The goal over time is to lose fat mass and maintain lean body mass. Rapid weight loss over a few days is usually water weight and not fat; and rapid weight gain over a few days is water and not muscle. Another important factor to help with weight loss is having an accurate BMR (basal metabolic rate). In my office, we will obtain your body composition analysis regularly and you receive a printed copy at each visit. Below is an outline of the information that you will receive.

Definitions

• Weight: Your weight in pounds
• LBM: Lean Body Mass (Total)
• LBM Segmental Assessment: LBM of each extremity and trunk
• TBW: Today Body Water
• ECW: Extracellular Water (outside of cells)
• ICW: Intracellular Water (inside of cells)
• MBF: Mass Body Fat in pounds
• PBF: Percent Body Fat
• BMI: Body Mass Index (based on height and weight)
• WHR: Waist Hip Ratio (distribution of fat stores in abdomen and hips)
• BMR: Basal Metabolic Rate - Calories required to maintain basic function. Muscle (in the LBM) consumes more energy (calories) than fat. More muscle means a higher BMR.

BMI Categories

**footnote: BMI categories alone are often not applicable to weight lifters, wrestlers, football players, or others who have very large muscle bulk and may inaccurately place them in the overweight or obesity category. In this case, we may rely more on PBF (Percent Body Fat) and lab numbers pertaining to metabolic health.

%Body Fat (PBF) Interpretation