{ "id": 8003, "date": "2018-11-01T14:27:35", "date_gmt": "2018-11-01T14:27:35", "guid": { "rendered": "https:\/\/uk.inbody.com\/?p=8003" }, "modified": "2018-11-01T14:32:37", "modified_gmt": "2018-11-01T14:32:37", "slug": "a-guide-to-buying-your-first-bia-device", "status": "publish", "type": "post", "link": "https:\/\/ro.inbody.com\/en\/a-guide-to-buying-your-first-bia-device\/", "title": { "rendered": "A Guide to Buying Your First BIA Device" }, "content": { "rendered": "

People are finally taking notice: body composition is useful for measuring health; BMI is not. \u00a0Even the\u00a0New York Times<\/a>\u00a0is publishing stories about the pitfalls and inaccurate uses of BMI. \u00a0The jury is in: if you want to be on the cutting edge of health and fitness,\u00a0you need to be involved with body composition analysis<\/b>. To do that, you need a device that measures body composition, and some of the most popular body composition tools are devices that use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).<\/p>\n

BIA devices are becoming one of the most popular and convenient ways to measure body fat percentage and body composition because of their speed, convenience, and accuracy. There is no shortage of them to buy, and costs range greatly. \u00a0Some are under $50, while others range in the tens of thousands.<\/p>\n

Why? \u00a0What\u2019s the difference between them?<\/p>\n

Fundamentally, all BIA devices operate using the same method: a small, safe, electric current is sent through a person\u2019s body. \u00a0Along the way, it encounters resistance due to the variation in water content in different parts of your body\u00a0\u2013 like in\u00a0fat and muscle \u2013 and that resistance is measured. \u00a0This information is then\u00a0analyzed and translated into useful outputs, such as body fat percentage and\u00a0lean body mass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So if every device uses the same method, why the range in price? What are some things to consider when looking for a BIA device, especially those that influence the cost? Here, we\u2019ll break down\u00a0the most important things to look into<\/strong>\u00a0when buying a BIA device to measure body composition.<\/p>\n

Check\u00a0the frequencies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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All BIA devices use at least one electric current set at a specific frequency to measure body composition. \u00a0In the past, this frequency was traditionally set at 50 kHz. \u00a0Some devices today continue to use this single frequency.<\/p>\n

However, beginning the early 1990s, research began to accumulate suggesting that single frequency devices set at 50 kHz\u00a0did not accurately predict changes<\/a>\u00a0in total body water, and that the use of multiple frequencies \u2013 multiple currents set at a different frequencies \u2013 was a superior method in terms of accuracy. \u00a0So, the\u00a0first thing you will want to check when looking at BIA devices whether it is a single or multifrequency device\u00a0<\/b>because generally speaking, devices that use multiple frequencies are found to be more accurate.<\/p>\n

Why are multifrequency devices typically more accurate? \u00a0The answer lies with how BIA devices measure that resistance \u2013 more accurately termed \u201cimpedance\u201d \u2013 when the current travels through the body.<\/p>\n

As the current travels, the water in your body will naturally resist the flow of the current as it travels. \u00a0This is called\u00a0resistance<\/b>. \u00a0When the current encounters a cell, the cell wall will cause a \u201cdelay\u201d as the current builds up enough energy to pass through the cell wall. \u00a0This brief \u201ctime delay\u201d is referred to as\u00a0reactance<\/strong>. \u00a0Impedance is a combination of these two values.<\/p>\n

How does this apply to frequencies? Lower frequencies don\u2019t have enough energy to pass through cell walls easily, so they often\u00a0follow an easier path by traveling around cells. This means lower frequencies are better suited for measuring\u00a0extracellular water<\/strong>. \u00a0Conversely, higher frequencies are better suited to penetrating cell walls and can\u00a0measure both intracellular and extracellular water<\/a>. The end result is that those frequencies can measure all of your body water and provide you with an accurate result for your lean body mass.<\/p>\n

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Ideally, you will want a device that\u00a0uses at least two frequencies<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 one on the lower end and the other on the higher end. The more frequencies you have, the better the device is able to gather the information required to accurately measure your total body water, and from there, your body composition.<\/p>\n

See what outputs it provides<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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BIA devices range widely in capabilities and the outputs they are able to produce. \u00a0Some devices only measure your body fat percentage, while others can give much more information. \u00a0Typically, the better quality the BIA device, the more comprehensive outputs you will receive.<\/p>\n

Every BIA device on the market will at least give body fat percentage. \u00a0Using body fat percentage as an indicator of your overall health and weight is a very useful metric and a much better tool than simply monitoring your scale weight.<\/p>\n

However, just as relying solely on scale weight isn\u2019t advisable, neither is relying solely on body fat percentage. \u00a0This is because\u00a0body fat percentages can fluctuate for many reasons<\/a>, not all of these changes are related to weight gain or loss.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n