Understanding the InBody Machine

“Why has my lean muscle mass gone down since last week?”

“Have I really gained 3% body fat?”

These are some of the common questions we get from our members about the accuracy of their InBody results.  If you’d like to understand more about how the InBody scanner works and the factors that can lead to variability in the results, read on...

How does the InBody machine work?

The InBody machine uses BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) technology to measure your body composition.  Low level currents in the body are read by measuring your total body water. It will then determine the ratio of muscle mass to fat mass in your body by reading the amount of resistance the current goes through.

What factors influence the results?

Exercise

Exercise will influence the results of your InBody scan due to the variance of hydration levels within your body.  Therefore you must use the machine prior to your workout for the most accurate result.

Eating

While it is fine to eat before using the machine, be aware that food in your system may mean your result does not reflect your body composition accurately. Therefore, we recommend that you aim to avoid having a large amount of food or drink just before you do a scan.

Using the toilet

Faeces and urine are read as fat by the InBody scanner so consider using the toilet before taking your reading.

Menstruation

For women, your InBody results will be affected depending on the stage of your cycle you are in.  Because your results will be more variable during ovulation and the luteal phase (Day 14 onwards until menstruation), it’s preferable to try to scan during the follicular phase (Days 1-14). 

If you notice an anomaly result that doesn’t fit with the trend of your recent results, then this could be why.

Clothing

Remove any jackets or jumpers before you use the InBody as these will decrease the scan’s accuracy.  Similarly, wearing socks interferes with the foot electrodes so always remove socks before a scan.

Antibacterial spray and cloths can be found beside the machine for you to use on the foot sensors prior to and after using the machine.

Sweaty Palms

We’ve noticed that the InBody readings are sometimes impacted when people scan themselves after they’ve walked or jogged to Patch and their palms are sweaty. To increase the accuracy of the result, dry off your palms before you take hold of the hand electrodes, or wait for your body temperature to cool down before stepping on the machine.

How can I get the most accurate measure of my body composition?

The most important thing for accuracy is to be consistent about when you scan yourself. Rather than using the machine at random times, try to use the InBody at the same time of day and the same time of the month.

Also, try to look at the overall trends in your results from month to month, rather than looking at scans from day to day in isolation.

FAQs

Is the InBody accurate?

As described here, there are many factors that can influence the results, but the InBody is considered one of the most accurate body composition scanners on the market.

How often should I use the InBody machine?

The choice is yours and depends on your goals.  You might like to use your initial scan to establish a baseline and then look for patterns over time that are relevant to your own health and fitness goals, such as a steady increase in muscle mass or a gradual reduction in body fat. 

The important thing, especially for women, is to be aware that their menstrual cycle will affect their readings and, therefore, scanning once or twice per month but in the earlier part of the cycle is recommended.

Who shouldn’t use the InBody?

You should not use the InBody machine if you have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, or if you have a history of epilepsy or seizures. 

Pregnant women are also not recommended to use the InBody, however, this is more to do with the inaccuracy of the scans rather than any potential dangers of using the machine on the mother or developing foetus.

Questions?

If you have any other questions about the InBody machine or how to interpret the results, please speak to any of the coaches who’ll be happy to help!

Download the InBody App

If you would like to receive your scans directly to your phone and receive a more detailed breakdown of your results, download the InBody app from the App Store for Apple phones or Google Play for Android.