The Analysis of Body Composition is an indispensable part in the assessment of the nutritional status of a person since, to determine the changes in body composition, it is very important in different situations. A nutritional study is not enough to weigh ourselves and talk about ideal weight. The definition of obesity based on the Body Mass Index (BMI), which only takes into account the height and weight, is insufficient as a diagnostic tool and as an evaluation element during the therapy of a weight problem.
Objective of a Body Composition Analysis
The objective analysis of body composition is to quantify "in vivo" our body components, the relationships between them as well as the modifications associated with various factors. Now we must determine the percentage of total and visceral fat, lean mass and body water, among other parameters. For this there are methods that use devices such as Radiological Densitometry, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance or Electrical Impedance or Bioimpedance.
What is Bioimpedance?
Bioimpedance is a non-invasive, painless, effective and responsible study that is based on the application of an imperceptible alternating current, applied between the patient's hands and feet and measures the body's capacity to transport a certain amount of electrical energy. To the
Having biological properties different electrical properties, their behavior against the passage of this current can determine their nature and composition.
The study of Body Composition based on the technique of Bioimpedance allows to establish the percentage of fat mass (adipose tissue) and lean or fat-free mass (muscles, bones, organs) of a person, plus their basal metabolism to then establish the need to lose or gain weight, depending on each case.
What is the use of knowing my Body Composition?
Knowing our body composition is important. Excess or lack of body fat or lean mass, as well as excess water, are of great help to be able to know in depth diseases such as overweight and obesity, eating disorders, problems of fluid retention in pathologies cardiac, renal or endocrinological, muscle loss with age or failures in growth and development.
We can gain or lose fat and minerals from bone or muscle as a result of disease, from eating too much or too little, from high-performance sports training or from psychiatric disorders related to food. All these changes
in the organism they can only be detected using a valid method of measuring the Body Composition, such as Bioimpedance, together with an adequate professional evaluation.
The ideal weight is not for everyone
Although there is a close relationship between obesity and total body weight, errors can occur in the interpretation of measures of individuals with a large muscle mass such as bodybuilders or patients with important edema, in which the excess of
Weight is due to muscle or water and not to fat.
Fat-free mass is an active compartment metabolically and contains organs, bones, blood or muscle. In malnourished people or in eating disorders such as anorexia with loss of protein component, it is important to know the measure of lean mass. Older people also tend to lose lean mass and represent a large risk group of malnutrition, so their study is essential.
Determine visceral fat helps us in diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, acute myocardial infarction among others.
In Pediatrics, Bioimpedance can help to assess problems of growth disorders or help control childhood obesity.
