Muscle is far denser than fat, as depicted above. So if you change your body composition by losing fat and gaining muscle, you may actually gain weight. Therefore it can be a mistake to focus solely on how much you weigh. It's what your body is actually composed of that really matters!
Body Mass Index (or BMI) has long been the medical community's standard screening index for obesity. But because it's calculated based solely on height and weight, BMI fails to take body composition into account. So a 5'6" 130 pound layabout and a 5'6" 130 pound competitive triathlete will both have the exact same BMI.
As a result, BMI can be a poor and even misleading indicator of body composition and overall health. (Thankfully, BMI's gold-standard status seems to be fading.)
The test uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to analyze the contents of your body and provide a precise (though not infallible) snapshot of your muscle, fat, water, and even visceral fat levels.
It's completely non-invasive, with no pinching or prodding. All you need to do is stand on the machine for about a minute, and the machine does the rest.
(We strongly encourage you to review and follow the testing guidelines outlined below.)
★ Visceral Fat Level:
Located deep within your abdominal cavity, visceral fat can be detrimental to your health even if you have a normal overall weight. Studies have linked elevated visceral fat to increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, making early detection and management crucial for long-term health.
The InBody 570 accurately measures your visceral fat level, allowing you to monitor this silent risk factor and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
★ Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR):
Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories your body burns in a day simply by being alive. As shown below, it accounts for the largest percentage of our overall caloric burn. Recent research has shown that as we approach 60 years in age, our BMR - and therefore our Total Energy Expenditure - both begin to decline. Knowing your BMR empowers you to set realistic and informed calorie targets based on your goals, and helps you make sure you're fueling your body appropriately for your activity level.
★ Body Fat %:
Body fat percentage is one of the most valuable metrics for weight management and understanding your body composition and overall health. The InBody 570 accurately measures body fat, allowing you to track progress towards your goals, be it reducing fat percentage for improved athletic performance or maintaining a healthy range for overall well-being.
★ Skeletal Muscle Mass:
Skeletal Muscle Mass is muscle that is used for voluntary movement, and is most readily influenced by diet and exercise.
Muscle burns 3x to 5x more calories than fat when you're at rest, and considerably more when you're active. That's why strength training to develop lean muscle mass is a critical component of sustainable fat loss. And that's another reason why understanding your body composition - and how it changes over time in response to your workout and nutrition habits - can be such a powerful tool.
Lean muscle not only boosts your metabolism but also improves overall strength, bone density, and body composition. Research has shown that it's also associated with reduced cancer mortality.
The InBody 570 helps you track and optimize your muscle mass gains, and even breaks the data down by body segment.
Chatham Works is proud to be one of the only fitness facilities with an InBody on all of Cape Cod.
Annual THE WORKS members have one scan per quarter included FREE as part of their membership.
Personal Training clients are eligible to get one scan every 4 sessions.
Our à la carte pricing is shown below.
To schedule your InBody scan, please call us at 508-469-0123, email us at info@chathamworks.com. Or just come on in!
Our knowledgable staff are here to help you understand your InBody scan results, and how to use that knowledge to develop fitness and nutrition plans to help you meet your goals.
But for the "DIY'ers" among you, here's a detailed breakdown on how to interpret your InBody scan results:
InBody 570 Results Interpretation
And here's some helpful additional background info: Body Composition 101
• Hydrate well the day before
• Do not drink caffeine on the day of your test
• Do not eat for 3-4 hours prior to testing
• Do not exercise 6-12 hours prior to testing
• Do not take InBody Test after a shower or sauna
• Do not consume alcohol for 24 hours prior to testing
• Ensure access to both feet with removable footwear (no socks or pantyhose)
• Do not wear jewelry- all jewelry will have to be removed prior to testing
• Measure after standing for at least 5 minutes
• For females, avoid having measurement during menstrual period as total body water will be higher than normal
• Individuals with pacemakers or other electronic medical devices should not take the InBody Test