Body Composition Analysis (BCA)

Body weight is just that a measurement of how much weight you have on your frame. However, depending on where that fat is coming from and where you carry that fat can be a very important distinction when it comes to your overall health and wellness. A body composition test can measure where your weight is being deposited in the form of lean tissue versus fat tissue. It can also help detect any health risks you might be at risk for. By understanding where your body’s weight comes from, and fine-tuning your nutrition plan accordingly, you can see an improved body composition and better health in turn.

What is Body Composition?

Body composition is properly assessing what the human body is composed of. This can be done by calculating the percentage of body fat and lean muscle mass, among other variables including bone, tissue, and water. Body composition essentially broke down your body into its individual components.

The human body quantifies itself and its functions in a lot of ways. Conversations about blood pressure, glucose levels, chemical reactions, and even body weight are common. However, there seems to be one area that gets lost in translation. That is the composition of the human body! If someone were to ask you how much muscle mass you have compared to your total body fat, do you know how to answer? Being able to know your personal body composition measurements will not only help you with gaining control over your fitness, but ensure that you’re getting the most out of your training regimen.

Why is Body Composition Important?

If you want to know if you are growing muscle or reducing fat, your body composition is crucial. Beginning with a weight loss plan, they often keep track of their results by weighing first thing in the morning, before eating, drinking, or going to the bathroom. This measurement does not tell you how much fat you have lost and how much lean mass (i.e. muscle) has been gained.

In fact, it tells us very little about our health at all, but we still do it every day. On average, your body stores 30 grams of water for every 1 gram of glycogen (carbohydrates stored in the liver and muscle), which means fluctuations in water weight can lead to scale fluctuations that don’t represent any actual change in body mass.

How to Measure Body Composition

There are several types of body fat testing methods on the market. Each has its own test, pros and cons, giving you some proven ways to measure your body fat and lean mass to get a more accurate picture of what’s happening beneath your skin.

3D Scanner

A 3D body scanner can be used to measure body composition, including body fat percentage, muscle mass, and bone density. The scanner uses light to create 3D images of the body, which are then analyzed using advanced software. This provides accurate measurements that can be used to assess your health and fitness.  Learn about 3DFit scanner we use.

Skinfold Tests

Skinfold tests are the most common method of measuring body fat, but they can be tricky to do. Skinfold measurements are quick, cheap and easy to administer. The key is that you need a caliper that’s accurate and you need to know how to use it properly. If you’re not careful with your measurement technique, then you’ll get an inaccurate result which is a problem if you’re trying to track progress over time or make comparisons between different people.

The reason skinfold tests tend not to work well on athletes or people who have very muscular physiques is because their muscle mass will make their subcutaneous fat appear less than it actually is. And since muscle weighs more than fat pound-for-pound, this means that someone who has a lot of muscle may end up looking like they have less body fat than they really do.

DXAa/DEXA Scan

DXA/DEXA Scans are the most accurate method of measuring body fat percentage. This is because they use X-rays to measure bone density, rather than skin folds or underwater weighing. However, DXA/DEXA scans can only be used to measure your bone density and not your body fat percentage.

To determine how much of your body is made up of muscle mass versus fat mass, you’ll need to have a DEXA scan done at a radiology facility or hospital. It’s important that the machine used has been calibrated recently by an accredited organization such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), so that you can be sure that your results are precise and accurate.

The key takeaway is that your body composition is not the same as weight, and focusing on it alone will not help you achieve your goals. If you want to improve your health and fitness, then it’s important to focus on making healthy food choices and exercising consistently.

Conclusion

When attempting to achieve the best physical condition of your life, BCA is a fantastic tool to have. As you lose weight, you can keep track of your progress. It can serve as inspiration to help you continue. These measurements are taken by the brand Evolt and 3d Fit. To obtain the most precise BCA, Absofitly uses both BIA and 3D scan technology. Fit3d should deal with 3D body modeling, and Evolt should be with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Additionally, Absofitly uses the BCA-related brand names Evolt and 3D Fit.