Bioimpedance is an exam that analyzes body composition, showing approximately muscles, fats and fats, this test is widely used in gymnastics and in addition to nutritional consultations to evaluate the results of the diet and training plan, it can be done every 3 to 6 months. to compare the results and check for a change in body composition.
This type of examination is performed on special scales such as Tanita or Omron, which have metal plates that lead to a type of weak electric current that runs throughout the body.
- In addition to the current weight.
- These scales also alter the muscle mass.
- Fat.
- Water and heat that the body burns throughout the day depending on the sex.
- Age.
- Size and intensity of physical activity.
- This data is entered into the scale so that you can perform the correct calculations.
How it works in the following video
The bioimpedance device is able to evaluate the percentage of fat, muscle, water and body water because an electric current passes through the body through metal plates, this current moves easily in the water and because it is as wet and hydrated as a muscle, It can go fast Fats and fish pose due to water so that the current has more difficulty passing.
Because it differentiates the strength of fat by letting the current pass and the speed at which it passes in the form of muscles, for example, it allows the device to calculate the value that indicates the amount of lean mass, fat and water.
So to know the composition of the body, it is enough to pass barefoot, and without support, in a Tanita, for example, the support in the hands of the metal plates of another type of smaller device. The main difference between these bioimpedance methods is that balance is the most accurate result for the composition of the lower mitral layer of the body, but in the apparatus that is held in the hands, the result is the composition of the trunk, arms and head. In this way, the most difficult way to know body composition is to use a balance that combines methods.
For the test to indicate the correct fat and lean mass values, it is necessary to ensure certain conditions such as:
Also, use small, lightweight parts to make sure the results are the most accurate.
Every preparation is very important because when it comes to water, if there is no adequate hydration, the body has less water so that the electric current can be projected and, therefore, the value of the mass can be greater than what is real value.
When retaining fluids, it is also important to check it in advance and inform the technician, as excess water in the body can cause an increase in lean mass, which also reflects reality.
In addition to Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI), the different values offered by these bioimpedance devices or scales are:
The weight loss mass is expressed in % or kg, depending on the type of device. Recommended mass values vary by gender and age, as shown in the following table:
Ideally, the value of fat mass is within the so-called normal range, because when it is higher than that value, it means that there is accumulated fat, which increases the risk of various diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Athletes usually have a weight below normal weight
The value of lean mass indicates muscle mass and water in the body, although some more modern scales and devices differ between values. For lean mass, the recommended values in Kg are:
In addition to fat mass, lean mass should also be within the range of values defined as normal, however, athletes generally have higher values due to frequent workouts that facilitate muscle development, they are sedentary people who do not cut muscle in the gym, usually with a lower value.
Lean mass is generally used to evaluate the results of a training plan, as it can evaluate whether you are gaining muscle with the type of exercise you perform.
Typically, muscle mass should increase the duration of bioimpedance assessments, as much as muscle mass, the mass of calories spent per day, allowing you to easily remove excess body fat and prevent it. Cardiovascular diseases. This information can be expressed in pounds of muscle or as a percentage.
Muscle mass only changes the weight of muscles within lean mass, not to mention water and other body tissues. This type of mass also includes the smooth muscles of certain organs such as the stomach and intestine, as well as the heart muscle.
The reference values for water supply for men and women are different and are described below:
This value is very important to know if the body is well hydrated, which guarantees the health of the muscles, prevents cramps, fractures and injuries, guaranteeing a gradual improvement in the performance and results of the training.
Therefore, when the value is below the reference range, it is advisable to increase the daily water consumption to 2 liters to avoid dehydration.
The value of bone density should be constant over time to ensure that bones are healthy and keep up with changes in bone density, so it is very important to evaluate the benefits of physical activity for the elderly or the elderly. osteoporosis, for example, because regular physical activity strengthens people while treating bone density loss.
See some exercises that can help build muscle and improve bone density for the next bioimpedance test.
Visceral fat is fat that is stored in the abdominal area surrounding vital organs such as the heart, the value can vary between 1 and 59, divided into groups:
Even the presence of visceral fat helps protect organs, excess fat is harmful and can cause a variety of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and even heart failure. You know your weight is ideal.
Basal metabolism is the caloric contribution that the body consumes to function properly, so this number is calculated from the age, sex and physical activity entered on the scale.
Knowing this value is very useful for dieters to know how many calories they need to consume each day to gain weight or gain weight.
In addition, the device may also have the metabolic age that represents the age for which the current metabolism chart is recommended, in this way, the metabolic age should always be less than the current age to have a positive healthy person result.
To increase the rate of metabolism, it is necessary to increase lean mass and reduce it through fat, since the muscle is active and uses more calories than fat, thus contributing to the calories of the fat diet stored in the body.
These scales over time become cheaper and cheaper, even if the price of a bioimpedance scale is higher than a conventional scale, it is a very interesting way to keep it in the form of monitoring, and the benefits can make up for it.