Recently I did a fun little experiment on myself. 

I did a BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) scan BEFORE a 1-hour gym session and again immediately AFTER.

I was inundated with requests to share what happened and why I don’t recommend these scans. So here are the results:



BEFORE TRAINING

Weight: 61kg. The report suggested I needed to gain 1kg to get to 62kg

Height: 169.8cm

Skeletal Muscle Mass: 25.9kg

Body Fat %: 23.1%

Visceral Fat Level: 5

BMR: 1383kcal

Bone Mineral Content: 2.95kg



AFTER TRAINING

Weight: 61.1kg. The report suggested I needed to lose 0.3kg to get to 60.8kg by increasing 0.7kg of muscle and decreasing 1kg of fat

Height: 168.2cm - I shrunk

Skeletal Muscle Mass: 25.4kg - I lost 0.5kg of muscle

Body Fat %: 24.6%. Increased by 1.5%!! Gained 900g fat

Visceral Fat Level: 6 - increased

BMR: 1365kcal - decreased

Bone Mineral Content: 2.84kg - decreased



Hopefully, this highlights that these scans are not the best tool for monitoring changes in body composition. They are very easy to manipulate and results can vary significantly - up to 8% variance has been seen in the literature! 

If I can gain 900g of body fat, lose 500g of muscle and gain almost a centimetre in my arm circumference in an hour - what hope do you have of assessing accurate change over 4 weeks?!

There is absolutely no point in measuring something if it cannot accurately track progress. Save your $. You’re welcome :)



LINKS:

Go back and listen to episode 32 on how BIA scans work and why I think they’re a waste of money HERE

To book in to our monthly skin fold clinic in Brisbane - Book Online HERE

Just three spots left for October.

Join the waitlist for our next Triathlon Nutrition Academy opening: www.dietitianapproved.com/academy

Website:www.dietitianapproved.com

Instagram: @Dietitian.Approved @triathlonnutritionacademy

Facebook: facebook.com/DietitianApproved

The Triathlon Nutrition Academy is a podcast by Dietitian Approved

Support the show

Recently I did a fun little experiment on myself. 
I did a BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) scan BEFORE a 1-hour gym session and again immediately AFTER.
I was inundated with requests to share what happened and why I don’t recommend these scans. So here are the results:
 
BEFORE TRAINING
Weight: 61kg. The report suggested I needed to gain 1kg to get to 62kg
Height: 169.8cm
Skeletal Muscle Mass: 25.9kg
Body Fat %: 23.1%
Visceral Fat Level: 5
BMR: 1383kcal
Bone Mineral Content: 2.95kg
 
AFTER TRAINING
Weight: 61.1kg. The report suggested I needed to lose 0.3kg to get to 60.8kg by increasing 0.7kg of muscle and decreasing 1kg of fat
Height: 168.2cm - I shrunk
Skeletal Muscle Mass: 25.4kg - I lost 0.5kg of muscle
Body Fat %: 24.6%. Increased by 1.5%!! Gained 900g fat
Visceral Fat Level: 6 - increased
BMR: 1365kcal - decreased
Bone Mineral Content: 2.84kg - decreased
 
Hopefully, this highlights that these scans are not the best tool for monitoring changes in body composition. They are very easy to manipulate and results can vary significantly - up to 8% variance has been seen in the literature! 
If I can gain 900g of body fat, lose 500g of muscle and gain almost a centimetre in my arm circumference in an hour - what hope do you have of assessing accurate change over 4 weeks?!
There is absolutely no point in measuring something if it cannot accurately track progress. Save your $. You’re welcome :)
 
LINKS:
<a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/32">Go back and listen to episode 32 on how BIA scans work and why I think they’re a waste of money HERE</a>
To book in to our monthly skin fold clinic in Brisbane - <a href="https://dietitian-approved.cliniko.com/bookings#location">Book Online HERE</a>
Just three spots left for October.
Join the waitlist for our next Triathlon Nutrition Academy opening: <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com/academy">www.dietitianapproved.com/academy</a>
Website: <a href="https://www.dietitianapproved.com">www.dietitianapproved.com</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.approved/">@Dietitian.Approved </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/triathlonnutritionacademy/">@triathlonnutritionacademy</a>
Facebook: <a href="https://wwww.facebook.com/DietitianApproved">facebook.com/DietitianApproved</a>
The Triathlon Nutrition Academy is a podcast by Dietitian Approved
<a href="https://paypal.me/DietitianApprovedAU">Support the show</a>

Welcome to the Triathlon Nutrition Academy Podcast! Brought to you by Advanced Sports Dietitian, Taryn Richardson. Listen as I break down the latest science to give you practical, easy to digest strategies to transform yourself into a Supercharged Triathlete! You have so much untapped potential...and I want to help you unlock that with the power of nutrition.

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