BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFE

Today more and more people have become followers of wellness lifestyle. This increases the demand for various wellness professionals, such as fitness trainers and nutritionists. Not long ago, their only helpers were scales and a measuring tape. Constitutional peculiarities were evaluated by sight, as well as a progress in weight loss or in building muscle mass. Modern hardware technology allows you to see much deeper, literally slice and dice the composition of the body.

BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFE

Bioimpedance analyzer determines the percentage of fluid, fat and muscle mass in the human body. This method makes it possible to calculate the basic metabolism, detect metabolic disorders and causes of overweight, determine the risks of developing disorders.

HOW THE METHOD WORKS BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFE

It is known that different tissues of the body have different resistance. A bioimpedance analyzer measures this resistance by passing an alternating electric current of very low voltage through the body. ‘Bioscanner Wellness’ performs this accurate and painless procedure (one of five technologies of the device) automatically. Participation of a qualified health professional is not required. All you have to do is fix sensors on the body according to explanatory figures and run the software. Measurements are taken within 10 seconds. After that, data processing is performed, and its results are displayed on the screen. A specialist receives all the necessary information, including the calculated parameters and recommendations for nutrition and physical activity.

WHAT IT IS USED FOR

BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFE
Bioimpedansometry is used in dietology, sports medicine and other areas of wellness and fitness. The bioimpedance analyzer assesses multiple significant parameters and performs control and comparison during the health-improving, weight loss and/or fitness training program. It is not by chance that this method is included in the standard of the dietitian office equipment (according to Executive Order No. 920n of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated November 15, 2012 “On approval of the procedure for delivery of healthcare to the public in the field of dietology”). Bioimpedansometry is also included in methodological recommendations for assessment of the efficacy of rehabilitation actions in athletes.

 

Bioimpedansometry helps to choose an individual diet plan and a physical activity level for disease prevention in healthy persons as well as nutritional therapy in chronic diseases. Development of sports nutrition programs occupies a special place. They must be suitable for certain sports and adapted to the individual needs of an athlete. Besides, this method allows assessment with high precision of the changes in the body due to change in dietary habits and physical activity level, helps to monitor the body weight loss and the muscle gain during the training process. Bioimpedansometry signals possible troubles and risks, points to mistakes, enabling to correct them quickly.

In particular, it can detect and monitor the body water content. Significant value increase indicates latent or distinct oedemata, which can point to cardiac or kidney diseases. Some diet plans can impair renal function and cause fluid retention. In such cases a correction of the diet is mandatory.

The other extreme is a dramatic decline in body fluid volume, especially extracellular water (blood and lymph). Such state is provoked by active physical activity without consumption of enough water. This leads to the weight loss, but it is not a reason for joy. Water deficiency causes blood thickening. It increases the probability of development of blood clots, and therefore, venous thrombosis, stroke or heart attack at any age. Regular monitoring of the body composition parameters during the weight loss program conducted with the use of a bioimpedance analyzer can help prevent dangerous complications.

WEIGHT CORRECTION AND ATHLETIC TRAINING

Everyone is familiar with the situation, when after a week of exhaustive training the bathroom scales show not desired weight loss, but an unexpected weight gain. This has nothing to do with ineffectiveness of the effort, it is all about building muscle mass. During first several days or weeks of training, muscle growth is faster in untrained people than in athletes. Since muscle is heavier than fat, a small increase in body weight is possible. This can be proved by the bioimpedansometry measuring a percentage of active cell mass (ACM).

ACM is mainly the skeletal muscle tissue. The weight loss program is considered effective if percentage of the body fat decreases, and percentage of the active cell mass increases a little. The muscle mass gain is necessary during the body weight loss program, because the muscles burn more calories than fat and other tissues. ACM deficiency leads to accumulation of the fat, even in case of energy restricted diet. If amount of ACM decreases, it means that muscle proteins burn. The protein-free diets can cause such state. The body weight reduces, but functions of internal organs deteriorate. That is why it is essential to monitor this parameter. ACM is also important for athletes. If the cause of weight gain of an athlete is not increasing muscle volume, but fat mass, it is necessary to adjust the nutrition and reduce its caloric value.

Each person has an individual basal metabolic rate (calorie expenditure at rest per day, which is necessary for normal life activity). The lower it is, the worse calories are burned and the weight loss process is longer. Determination of the basal metabolic rate helps to determine the caloric content of the diet and create the optimal diet regimen for a person. Bioimpedansometry motivates to continue the weight struggles, because with the right diet and physical activity level the fat mass will gradually decrease, even if changes in appearance are not obvious yet. Even a basal metabolic rate is low, the results will definitely be apparent, but a little later.

BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFE

HOW THE PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED

Connect Bioscanner Wellness to a laptop or a computer via USB port. Accumulator or batteries are not required for operation of Bioscanner. An electric shock hazard is excluded, because the device is supplied from the computer. The device can be used anywhere if there is a possibility to connect Bioscanner to a laptop.

The examination should be conducted when a person is in his/her seating or lying position. There is no discomfort during the procedure. In order to perform an examination, place electrodes on the legs and arms. Before it, the corresponding skin areas should be wiped with 70% alcohol solution. Electrodes on the limbs should be placed strictly upon instruction. Electrode location must be in accordance to explanatory figures. It is necessary to provide close contact between entire surface of electrodes and patient’s skin. A poor contact leads to distortion of the measurement results or absence of data.

For bioimpedansometry you can use both single-use electrodes FIAB and reusable clip ECG electrodes. When you use single-use electrodes, a measurement error is much less, so they are recommended for the single checkup. Reusable clip electrodes can be recommended for the long-term monitoring of the efficacy of rehabilitation actions. It is necessary to moisten the contacts of reusable electrodes with 9% saline solution (to prepare it, you should dissolve a whole teaspoon of salt in 100 ml of cooled boiled water). Measurement takes no more than 15 seconds. A person should stay still during the procedure.

The procedure of bioimpedansometry for monitoring of changes is not recommended more than once per three or four days. In this case the changes in the values are more noticeable and the measurement errors have less effect. According to studies, even with the most sensitive device and a perfectly performed procedure, the body fat percentage measurement error reaches 8-9%. This means that actual decrease in the fat mass by 4% can be displayed, for example, as 4% increase. When intervals between diagnostic procedures are longer, it prevents disappointment in diet and exercise.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

BIOIMPEDANSOMETRY: HOW TO LIVE A TASTY AND HEALTHY LIFEConducting of bioimpedansometry is not recommended when a person has a heart pacemaker, skin damage and/or skin disease in places of contact between electrodes and skin or during pregnancy. Besides, it is not advisable to perform the procedure if the body temperature is high or during menses.

To provide the accuracy of measurements, it is necessary one week before the examination to discontinue diuretics and two days before the procedure a person should avoid of tea, coffee or alcoholic drinks. A person should not eat or drink at least 3 hours before the procedure. Besides, a half-hour before the examination the urinary bladder should be emptied.

A person must not have jewelry on the body, including piercing jewelry. All electronic devices should be turned off. It is advisable to wear loose clothing made of cotton. Before the examination, especially when a person comes from outdoor into a room, it is necessary to lie down for 7–10 minutes to get acclimatized.