What is it?
Body composition is as simple as it sounds – it refers to the percentage of tissues types making up one’s body. The tissues included in this equation are muscle, fat, and water. This is slightly different than body mass index (BMI) because body composition considers each specific tissue whereas BMI is a more generic measure using height and weight but does not consider what tissues are making up said weight.
How it’s measured?
Body composition is measured in multiple ways but each method has one underlying similarity – bioimpedance. This just means that an electrical signal that is neither non-painful nor even detectable by the user is sent through their body and returns to the machine at different speeds based on the tissues the signal travels through. For instance, if the signal travels through a body that has very low fat but lots of water and muscle, it will return to the machine at a faster speed than if it travels through a body with more fat and less muscle. This gives the machine an opportunity to make the most accurate calculation possible.
Why is it important?
Just like anything in life, if you plan on going anywhere or making progress in something it is vital to know where you’re starting. This allows for a solid comparison of before and after to detect meaningful change. In the example of body composition, if you measure it before changing your training routine and then measure it 3 months later you will have numbers to prove whether the routine was effective for you or not but if you did not take that initial measurement you don’t have a comparison. Another benefit of this measurement is seeing the amount of fat tissue that is composing someone’s body. Not only is adipose linked to body inflammation that can overburden the body in many ways, it also can surround someone’s organs- this is called visceral fat even when they appear to be skinny when just looking at them. The InBody scan is a fast, affordable, non-invasive way to confirm if someone has this visceral fat. Lastly, seeing how much water is making up your body allows you to make changes such as drinking less soda, energy drinks, coffee or alcohol while consuming more water whether drinking it or eating fruits and vegetables.
Ways to improve it?
Exercise is one proven way to increase lean muscle mass while also reducing the amount of body fat someone has. One reason this happens is the muscle tissue that is built from resistance training actually uses more energy even at rest and the body will begin to use more of its fat as energy. Another reason is the simple fact of burning more energy during training itself – again the body will tap into its fat tissue as a way to continue to expend energy. Diet is another more clear way to increase body composition, although not always easy and affordable to eat healthily it is effective. Lastly, hydration can help improve body composition and support the body in many ways which will be our next topic – be on the lookout!
Resource: Inbodyusa.com
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