We utilise this BIA technology to send very low electrical signals through your body. Then we take that data and work out metabolic rate compared to age. So you stand on the scale, the scale takes your weight and then little electrodes on the foot points send little electrical signals through your body.

I guess there are nine readings that people focus on and you can have that on your mobile phone instantly. SB: To use our home use devices, no. Most of our output and data is colour coded. We try and make it really simple to understand.

There is some data in there that clinicians will use and could be used in oncology departments or others, so there is some data that is more difficult to understand. Red is not good, green is good and orange is borderline.

We are the market leaders so you could argue that most of them probably are Tanita. Tanita were the first organisation to release muscle centile charts for children, which is a big thing for the industry.

With body composition, instead of talking about body fat or weight, which can have a lot of negative connotations, you can talk about muscle and hydration and have a much more positive conversation. So those two devices are our bestselling clinical devices.

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View profiles in store. Company Profile — free sample Thank you! The point of measurement remains consistent for highly reproducible results. Traditional BIA views the human body as one cylinder. However, the short length and large cross-sectional area of the torso mean that even a minor measurement mistake can lead to substantial error.

For the most accurate results, BIA devices should measure the torso separately. Direct segmental measurement bioelectrical impedance analysis regards the human body as five cylinders: left arm, right arm, torso, left leg, and right leg.

InBody independently measures each cylinder to provide accurate measurements for the entire body. Many BIA devices use empirical equations to compensate for technological flaws, including the lack of torso impedance due to whole-body impedance measurement , single frequency measurements which are unable to differentiate between water compartments , and lack of reproducibility from electrode placement or positioning.

InBody measures body composition without relying on empirical assumptions based on age, sex, ethnicity, or body shape, producing accurate and precise results validated to gold standard methods. Simply put, InBody provides individualized feedback for progress tracking to help you achieve your goals.

Our advanced BIA technology has been validated in over 4, clinical studies worldwide and proven amongst the most accurate. Compared to DEXA, InBody has a high correlation to the Gold Standard method for Fat-Free Mass and Body Fat Percentage in an ambulatory population. InBody devices are used by leading professionals around the world to give their clients results they can trust and track.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that your actual monthly payment liability is subject to change based on the amount financed, which is at the financer's discretion and that the amount shown here is merely an estimate and does not include applicable federal and sales tax.

Hit enter to search or ESC to close. Close Search. InBody Technology. What makes InBody technology different? The History of BIA Technology.

and the Impedance Index In , Hoffer et al. conducted a series of experiments to prove that total body water and bioelectrical impedance were highly correlated, suggesting that impedance measurements could be used for determining total body water. The equation Hoffer et al. The device measured impedance using a 50kHz current applied to the right half of the subject's body via electrodes attached to the back of the right hand and on top of the right foot.

Previous body composition methods like calipers or underwater weighing were uncomfortable, required skilled technicians to install or operate, and could not test a wide variety of populations. Alternatively, BIA was easy, fast, less expensive, and non-invasive, making it popular with many researchers, nutritionists, and medical experts.

Two limitations of BIA were its assumption of the human body as a single-cylinder and its use of a single frequency 50 kHz.

This method worked for users with standard body types, but it was inaccurate for populations outside of this mold, such as fit elderly adults. To improve accuracy, researchers derived various population-specific equations based on empirical data like age, sex, and body type for determining body composition.

Late s — Consumer BIA Device In the late 80s, Japanese manufacturers released several BIA devices for personal use, which gradually became more popular than professional medical models due to technological constraints mentioned earlier.

Some of these BIA devices were scales that measured the impedance between the user's feet, while other models were handheld and measured the impedance between the user's hands. Both types of models potentially produced inaccurate results because they measured the arms or legs directly and estimated everything else.

Robert Kushner proposed that the technical limitations of BIA could be improved by measuring the human body as five separate cylinders instead of one. Each cylinder has a different length and cross-sectional area resulting in varying impedance values. With the single-cylinder model, the thinness and smaller cross-sectional area of the limbs reduce their impact on whole-body impedance.

Kushner also believed it was necessary to measure the body cylinders at different frequencies to distinguish intracellular, extracellular, and total body water. This distinction would allow a better understanding of fluid distribution, providing an accurate measure of the hydrated state of fat-free mass.

Cha Creates the InBody Professional Body Composition Analyzer In , Dr. Many BIA products provide segmental muscle and fat mass measures but not impedance, particularly in the torso. The InBody device measured impedance in the limbs and torso separately, yielding highly accurate results without using empirical data based on age, sex, ethnicity, athleticism, and body shape.

This innovative DSM-MFBIA technology makes the InBody a highly accurate and precise tool ideal for medical, fitness, and clinical applications. Learn more about how our DSM-MFBIA technology sets us apart from other BIA devices.

What is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis BIA? Multiple Frequencies. Direct Segmental Measurements. No Empirical Estimations. Other BIA Devices The ability to distinguish between extracellular and total body water is critical to identify fluid imbalances related to acute inflammation or edema.

InBody Devices InBody uses a combination of low and high frequencies to accurately determine extracellular, intracellular, and total body water.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis BIA is a method for measuring body composition, including muscle mass, body fat, and total body water.

Alternating low and high-frequency electrical currents are sent through the water in the body via contact with electrodes to measure impedance. The impedance is used to determine total body water TBW , which can then be used to derive your fat-free mass—the portion of your body that does not contain fat, including your muscle and bone—and finally, body fat.

InBody uses multiple currents at varying frequencies to provide precise body water analysis. When measuring impedance with electrodes, contact resistance occurs.

InBody accounts for contact resistance with strategically placed electrodes to ensure that measurements are accurate and reproducible. InBody measures your impedance independently, so your results are not affected by your age, sex, ethnicity, athleticism, or body shape.

The ability to distinguish between extracellular and total body water is critical to identify fluid imbalances related to acute inflammation or edema. As a result, patients with increased extracellular water may have overlooked health risks.

InBody uses a combination of low and high frequencies to accurately determine extracellular, intracellular, and total body water. The use of multiple frequencies allows InBody devices to achieve a high level of precision.

Medical practitioners can use InBody for measurements of body composition and fluid status. Many BIA devices lack a thumb electrode or have hand electrodes positioned close together. These designs can cause measurements to start in the palm, which has a high impedance and can cause inaccuracies or lead to inconsistent measurement starting points, reducing the reliability of results.

The anatomical design of the InBody hand electrode creates a simple holding position that is easy to reproduce. When an examinee grasps the handle, current flows from the palm electrode, and the electrical energy, or voltage, is initiated at the thumb electrode.

The point of measurement remains consistent for highly reproducible results. Traditional BIA views the human body as one cylinder. However, the short length and large cross-sectional area of the torso mean that even a minor measurement mistake can lead to substantial error.

For the most accurate results, BIA devices should measure the torso separately. Direct segmental measurement bioelectrical impedance analysis regards the human body as five cylinders: left arm, right arm, torso, left leg, and right leg. InBody independently measures each cylinder to provide accurate measurements for the entire body.

Many BIA devices use empirical equations to compensate for technological flaws, including the lack of torso impedance due to whole-body impedance measurement , single frequency measurements which are unable to differentiate between water compartments , and lack of reproducibility from electrode placement or positioning.

InBody measures body composition without relying on empirical assumptions based on age, sex, ethnicity, or body shape, producing accurate and precise results validated to gold standard methods.

Simply put, InBody provides individualized feedback for progress tracking to help you achieve your goals. Our advanced BIA technology has been validated in over 4, clinical studies worldwide and proven amongst the most accurate. Compared to DEXA, InBody has a high correlation to the Gold Standard method for Fat-Free Mass and Body Fat Percentage in an ambulatory population.

InBody devices are used by leading professionals around the world to give their clients results they can trust and track. Disclaimer: Please be aware that your actual monthly payment liability is subject to change based on the amount financed, which is at the financer's discretion and that the amount shown here is merely an estimate and does not include applicable federal and sales tax.

Hit enter to search or ESC to close. Close Search. InBody Technology. What makes InBody technology different? The History of BIA Technology. and the Impedance Index In , Hoffer et al. conducted a series of experiments to prove that total body water and bioelectrical impedance were highly correlated, suggesting that impedance measurements could be used for determining total body water.

The equation Hoffer et al. The device measured impedance using a 50kHz current applied to the right half of the subject's body via electrodes attached to the back of the right hand and on top of the right foot.

Previous body composition methods like calipers or underwater weighing were uncomfortable, required skilled technicians to install or operate, and could not test a wide variety of populations.

Alternatively, BIA was easy, fast, less expensive, and non-invasive, making it popular with many researchers, nutritionists, and medical experts. Two limitations of BIA were its assumption of the human body as a single-cylinder and its use of a single frequency 50 kHz. This method worked for users with standard body types, but it was inaccurate for populations outside of this mold, such as fit elderly adults.

To improve accuracy, researchers derived various population-specific equations based on empirical data like age, sex, and body type for determining body composition.

Late s — Consumer BIA Device In the late 80s, Japanese manufacturers released several BIA devices for personal use, which gradually became more popular than professional medical models due to technological constraints mentioned earlier.

Some of these BIA devices were scales that measured the impedance between the user's feet, while other models were handheld and measured the impedance between the user's hands. Both types of models potentially produced inaccurate results because they measured the arms or legs directly and estimated everything else.

The analysis first obtains total body water TBW. This is the amount of fluid that can be found inside and outside your body cells. Using ratios of bioelectrical impedance measured at a separate frequency, complex equations then estimate the amount of fat-free mass within the body.

The amount of body fat is finally deducted from the total weight. Note: Bioelectrical impedance is also a method used in cardiology to assess pulse wave velocity, another biomarker that determines the stiffness of the arteries to infer cardiovascular health.

Learn more about pulse wave velocity. The signal used in bioelectrical impedance analysis is totally safe and painless for both adults and children, but note that bioelectrical impedance is not recommended for people with pacemakers.

On one hand, many scientific publications attest to the reliability, precision and accuracy of the BIA method in providing valid estimates of total body water in individuals.

On the other hand, there is still a need for standardization and consensus on certain factors that may alter the test results. Because muscles are largely composed of water, dehydration decreases the amount of fluids and electrolytes that might lower the conduction of these tissues.

As a result, fat-free mass is more likely to be underestimated. Hydration levels vary widely throughout the day, which explains why consistency is an important factor in accurate BIA estimation.

However, fat-free mass is still often underestimated in children. Because the equations that interpret the fat-free mass based on total body water results rely on reference population segments, the body composition estimate might be inaccurate for people considered to be overfat.

People wearing metal implants may experience an underestimated body fat reading. However, this reading will remain constant over time, so they can successfully track their changes in body composition. Many devices have been designed to measure bioelectrical impedance with increased accuracy and convenience over the years.

Using the same measurement method, they mainly differ in terms of the number of electrodes and which section of the body is being measured vs.

which one is being estimated. Beyond the design of these devices, what matters is also the nature and complexity of the algorithm performed to estimate total body water and fat-free mass based on the received frequencies. To build these algorithms, scientists use body fat standards that can vary.

Using smart scales to measure your body composition can help you reliably and cost-effectively track changes if the measurement remains at a consistent level.

These scales have the ability to send the electrical current up one leg and down the other leg. Before using, users must set their age, height, and sex. Also called hand-to-hand impedance devices, they measure arm and upper trunk bioimpedance.

These common BIA devices are composed of four electrodes, each of which are placed on half of the body left or right , sending a current from the arm through the body and down the leg. The Direct Segmental Multi-Frequency BIA or DSM-BIA is the most advanced, and also the most expensive, device providing bioelectrical impedance analysis.

This device divides the body into 5 segments and independently measures the impedance for each segment. Bioelectrical impedance analysis BIA remains a quick and safe method for estimating body composition in adults.

This is why this cost-effective alternative is widely used in clinics and in sports medicine and other health-related fields. Many research efforts are yet to agree on a standard that can help correct the remaining questions of interpretation bias when using the BIA method.

However, consistency in measurements accurately helps to detect variations, which makes it easy for anyone to track changes in body composition. Continue without accepting Before you continue. We use cookies to offer useful features and measure performance to improve your experience.

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Fat mass was underestimated by 1. Individual error rates were greater than at baseline, with BIA underestimating fat mass by 7. A further study on obese populations [13] showed individual disagreement in body fat measurement between BIA and the four-compartment model was high. Individual measures of body fat ranged from There are a limited amount of comparisons between BIA and the reference four-compartment model in athletic populations.

There is disagreement amongst the limited research available, with only one study suggesting that BIA is suitable for assessing body composition in athletes [15], whereas other research suggests that body fat estimates are much higher in athletes when using the BIA method [16].

The discrepancies between the studies may be due to various issues including differences in methodology, equations, and athletic population. There are currently no BIA equations for athletes that have been derived from the criterion four-compartment method fat mass, total body water, bone mineral mass, residual mass.

This makes the application of BIA in this population difficult, as athletes are likely to possess substantially different quantities of fat and fat-free mass when compared to the general population or diseased populations that current equations are based on.

The reliability of BIA The reliability of BIA the reproducibility of the observed value when the measurement is repeated is also important to determine single-measurement precision, as well as the ability to track changes over time.

A plethora of research has indicated the importance — and potentially the inability — of standardising BIA measures to sufficiently account for various confounders.

The mean coefficient of variation for within-day, intra-individual measurements, has ranged from 0. Standard measurement conditions may vary depending on the machine type e. hand-to-hand, leg-to-leg, supine vs. standing, etc. Other factors which may impact the BIA measurement and should therefore also be standardised are [16]:.

The standardisation of hydration status is clearly of importance for BIA, as the method is reliant on estimations of total body water to ascertain fat-free mass. For female athletes, difference in hydration status during menses may significantly alter impedance [17] and should be a consideration when assessing female athletes with BIA.

Saunders et al. hyperhydrated or hypohydrated , indicating that even small changes in fluid balance that occur with endurance training may be interpreted as a change in body fat content.

In addition, eating and strenuous exercise hours prior to assessment have also previously been shown to decrease impedance; ultimately affecting the accuracy of the measurement [19].

The need to standardise eating, exercise, and both acute and chronic hydration changes are clearly important to provide valid body composition estimations. As mentioned previously, there are several issues with BIA measurement that may limit its use in an applied setting. Methodological limitations of BIA may affect the ability of the method to accurately determine body composition.

The primary issues with BIA are:. Sensor Placement One such limitation is the placement of the sensors, and their ability to give readings of total body composition. As electrical current follows the path of least resistance, some scales may send current through the lower body only, missing the upper body entirely.

Similarly, hand-held instruments may only assess the body composition of the upper extremities. As females typically have a higher proportion of adipose tissue in the gluteal-femoral region [20], it is possible that this would not be represented using hand-held BIA devices.

Hand-to-foot BIA devices, however, may allow for greater accuracy, as the current is sent from the upper body to the lower body, and is less likely to be influenced by the distribution of body fat. Hydration and Glycogen Levels Regardless, all devices are still subject to the same limitations that other BIA devices are.

Deurenberg et al. They speculated that changes in glycogen stores, and the loss of water bound to glycogen molecules, may affect BIA estimates of fat-free mass. In athletic populations, where varying glycogen stores are likely throughout a training week, it is likely that this will lead to some variation in the detection of change in fat-free mass in athletes as glycogen is likely to be affected by both diet, as well as the intensity, duration, and modality of previous training sessions — even with protocol standardisation.

Effect of incorrect measures in the applied setting An important consideration when assessing the individual variation of BIA is the potential consequences that an incorrect reading can have. This can have wide-ranging implications, from assessing the efficacy of previous dietary and training interventions to making decisions on the correct interventions moving forward.

For example, an athlete may be singled out for interventions to reduce their body fat based on their BIA assessment and normative values, yet other methods may suggest that their body composition is optimal. The primary area for future research in this area is clearly the need for validated BIA equations for athletes in a range of sports and with varying body composition.

It is important that these equations are validated using a total-body, water-based, four-compartment method, in an attempt to minimise the measurement error that is found when equations are based on the two-compartment model; such as hydrostatic weighing. As such, the following areas of research are needed to expand current knowledge on this topic:.

To conclude, it is likely that BIA is not a suitable body composition assessment method for athletic populations. The lack of a validated equation for this population, combined with the large individual error reported in overweight and obese populations, suggests that BIA does not provide accurate body composition data for both single-measure and repeated measures.

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Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis BIA Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis BIA can estimate body composition e. Contents of Article Summary What is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis? Types of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis What are the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis equations?

Is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis valid and reliable? Are there issues with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis? Is future research needed with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis? Conclusion References About the Author.

Figure 1. The difference in bioelectrical conductivity between muscle and fat. References Buccholz, C. Bartok and D. Franssen, E. Rutten, M. Groenen, L. Vanfleteren, E. Wouters and M. Schlager, R. Learn how to adapt your InBody experience to respond to COVID Hit enter to search or ESC to close.

Close Search. BIA A Guide to Buying Your First BIA Device By inbodyuk No Comments. Check the frequencies All BIA devices use at least one electric current set at a specific frequency to measure body composition.

See what outputs it provides BIA devices range widely in capabilities and the outputs they are able to produce. Here are a few other BIA outputs to look for and some reasons why you would want to track these in addition to body fat: Skeletal Muscle Mass : Skeletal Muscle Mass is the muscle that you can grow and develop through exercise and proper nutrition.

It also has a significant influence on change in Lean Body Mass. However, Lean Body Mass can also be influenced by other factors such as body water. Phase Angle : Phase Angle is a measurement of the relationship between reactance, resistance, and impedance.

This has an impact on your overall health. Find out what information it needs important All BIA devices are going to require your weight at the very minimum.

Summary There are a lot of things to consider when looking for a BIA device. You c an do more with more results. Changes in body fat percentages can be tricky to explain if the only outputs you have are Fat and Fat Free Mass.

Check what information the device needs from you in order to test. Understand what the device is actually measuring and what it is estimating. Recent Posts InBody UK strengthens its customer service support Total Fitness members benefit from leading body composition device at Wilmslow site Club Kingswood embeds InBody device into membership programme InBody UK goes from strength to strength InBody joins ukactive as a Strategic Partner.

Categories BIA Blog Body Composition Corporate Wellness Diabetes Diet Fat mass Fitness Health Muscle Nutrition Press Return on investment. LEARN About Us InBody Technology Result Sheet Interpretation What is Body Composition. Products InBody InBody S InBody InBody InBody S Support Support Request Data Integration Cookies Privacy Policy Terms of Use Policy.

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Accept Deny View preferences Save preferences View preferences. Manage consent. By measuring the voltage drop between source and receiver electrodes, BIA determines the resistance level of these tissues to the passage of the current.

A four-electrode configuration for BIA between the right arm and right leg. Although the first electrical impedance tests date back to Georg Simon Ohm , its application to the human body and the measurement of biological tissues was theorized in the second half of the 20th century.

Impedance measurement in clinical medicine. With time and a growing interest in body composition, other methods emerged.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis is now widely used in the medical field to distinguish the amount of body water, body fat and skeletal muscle in a body. The analysis first obtains total body water TBW.

This is the amount of fluid that can be found inside and outside your body cells. Using ratios of bioelectrical impedance measured at a separate frequency, complex equations then estimate the amount of fat-free mass within the body.

The amount of body fat is finally deducted from the total weight. Note: Bioelectrical impedance is also a method used in cardiology to assess pulse wave velocity, another biomarker that determines the stiffness of the arteries to infer cardiovascular health.

Learn more about pulse wave velocity. The signal used in bioelectrical impedance analysis is totally safe and painless for both adults and children, but note that bioelectrical impedance is not recommended for people with pacemakers.

On one hand, many scientific publications attest to the reliability, precision and accuracy of the BIA method in providing valid estimates of total body water in individuals.

On the other hand, there is still a need for standardization and consensus on certain factors that may alter the test results. Because muscles are largely composed of water, dehydration decreases the amount of fluids and electrolytes that might lower the conduction of these tissues. As a result, fat-free mass is more likely to be underestimated.

Hydration levels vary widely throughout the day, which explains why consistency is an important factor in accurate BIA estimation. However, fat-free mass is still often underestimated in children. Because the equations that interpret the fat-free mass based on total body water results rely on reference population segments, the body composition estimate might be inaccurate for people considered to be overfat.

People wearing metal implants may experience an underestimated body fat reading. However, this reading will remain constant over time, so they can successfully track their changes in body composition. Many devices have been designed to measure bioelectrical impedance with increased accuracy and convenience over the years.

Using the same measurement method, they mainly differ in terms of the number of electrodes and which section of the body is being measured vs. which one is being estimated. Beyond the design of these devices, what matters is also the nature and complexity of the algorithm performed to estimate total body water and fat-free mass based on the received frequencies.

To build these algorithms, scientists use body fat standards that can vary.