Chapter 1

-Results Sheet-
If you want to know the word definition, check Chapter 10 (page 267.)

-9-
Results Sheets
1. Body Composition Analysis

Body water takes around 50%~70% of the total weight. Major role of the
body water is delivering necessary nutrients, removing waste, and
regulating body temperature. Around 73% of the FFM is also composed of
body water. Body water is divided into two different components called
Intra-cellular water and extra-cellular water which maintains a ratio of 3:2.

Protein is a major component of cells, regulates hormones, hemostasis,

immune system as well as maintain homeostasis of body water and many
more. It is also a major component of muscle. Therefore, lacking in protein
means lacking in muscle which leads to weak body and weaken immune
system.

-10-
Results Sheets

Mineral is around 5%~6% of the body weight and most of this will be
found in the bones and teeth. The excess amount of this will be stored as
fat since our body has a tendency of storing what is excess.

Fat is a storage of excess calories and right amount of fat is required proper
physiological function. It is divided into visceral fat and subcutaneous fat
and the major purpose is to protect the body from external force, maintain
body temperature, provide energy when required.
Visceral fat is the fat which is surrounding the organs but too much of it
can disturb the insulin absorption and cause inflammation in the body
which can lead to different diseases. Few of the known diseases are
diabetes, cardiovascular disorder, dyslipidemia. Also non-alcoholic fatty liver.

-11-
Results Sheets

Soft lean mass is the body weight which include only the body water and
protein as well as the mineral which is dissolved in the blood. It is also a
major part of fat free mass which also has a direct relation with the basal
metabolic rate (BMR). BMR is how much calorie is required to maintain
homeostasis of the body at a resting state such as breathing and
maintaining heartbeat.

Fat Free Mass (FFM) is what we so call as muscle. It is including all three
different types of muscle which we call as smooth muscle, cardiac muscle
and skeletal muscle. However, out of all these three groups of muscle, the
skeletal muscle is the largest muscle group and the only voluntary muscle
which can be developed by exercising.
Also, since it’s the largest component of FFM, it also helps in increasing the
FFM most effectively.

-12-
Results Sheets

Some clients with low protein mass or mineral mass, if they can improve it
by consuming more protein or by having multi-vitamin pills. The answer to

this will be NO
Having more protein and mineral because you are lacking doesn’t do any
good to your body. Whatever is being consumed requires a usage to it or
else it will all be considered as something extra which will eventually
worsen the body.
According to many researches, having excess amount of protein can lead to
cardiovascular diseases, obesity and other adults diseases. Also, having
excess mineral without requirement from the body will be excreted.

-13-
Results Sheets
2. Muscle Fat Analysis – C Shapes

In muscle fat analysis, you can identify your weight and how much skeletal
muscle and body fat is composing your weight. These are all shown in
kilograms and along with the bar, percentage is also shown as well to help
you draw an image of how much excess or lacking you are from average.

Check the blue curve that is drawn above. In the Muscle Fat Analysis,
you can identify your body shape into three different types. C-Shape, I-
Shape, and D-Shape. All you have to do is connect each end of the three
graphs. Depending on the length of the graph, you will get to see an image
of a C-Shape, I-Shape, or a D-Shape.

-14-
Results Sheets
C-Shapes – Standard Weight and Weak

Due to lack of exercise, protein intake, injury or illnesses lead to excessive

metabolism (tuberculosis), edema, muscle, changes in the nervous system,
secondary infections or growth inhibition in children.

This type of a graph is mostly seen in females as well as some male who
are extremely thin. Their major goal would be increasing the muscle mass in
order to keep there body strong and healthy. Sufficient amount of protein
intake and regular exercise is necessary for such kind of body type.

-15-
Results Sheets
C-Shapes – Standard Weight and Obese

These body type requires a change in body composition. The weight is in the
normal range but compared to the muscle mass there is an excess amount of
body fat. Especially in the adult population, such kind of body composition
can be correlated to visceral fat. Excess amount of visceral fat increases the
risk of many other adult diseases regardless of weight.

This type of a graph is easily found in obese population who doesn’t like
exercising. It seems like they look absolutely normal since there weight is in
the normal range. Major focus of this group is to reduce down on the fat
mass by doing cardio exercise and maintain the muscle which they already
have. Cutting down on sugary food, unhealthy snacks can also help.

-16-
Results Sheets
C-Shapes – Overweight and Weak

Due to lack of exercise, protein intake, injury or illnesses lead to excessive

metabolism (tuberculosis), edema, muscle, changes in the nervous system,
secondary infections or growth inhibition in children.

This type of a person is severely obese. Since they are overweight due to
the excess amount of body fat, they will have to control there nutritional
intake as well as continuous exercise. At the same time, monitoring the
muscle mass is vey important since it is directly related to the basal
metabolic rate.

-17-
Results Sheets
2. Muscle Fat Analysis – I Shapes

As there are C Shape body types, there are also something called as the I-
Shape Body types. This type of body shape usually as everything in the
normal range, representing that they have right amount of weight, SMM
and Body Fat Mass as well.

Usually this type of body shape has a routine life style with exercising at
least 4 times a week. It seems like they are having a fit body but they also
have to be very cautious. Since they are mostly active, they also have good
meals everyday. However, If they start missing the workouts they will start
gaining the body fat very fast and eventually become a C-Shape in no time.

-18-
Results Sheets
I-Shapes – Under Weight and Weak

For this type of body, there is a very low risk of adult diseases. However,
they are seriously underweight which can cause edema, hair loss and other
health risks. This can easily found in population group which were
malnourished for a long term and the reasons could be due to poor
nutritional absorption capacity, loss of appetite due to illnesses, metabolic
disorders and drug uses.

People who are having this type of a body type usually has very weak body.
On top of that, there body might have some nutritional absorption issues
which prevents them from building fat or muscle. For this type of people,
close monitoring in the nutritional intake as well as exercising is required.
This type can also be diagnosed as Sarcopenia.

-19-
Results Sheets
I-Shapes – Standard Weight and Healthy

This type of body composition would be the best body composition. The
have the right amount of muscle and fat mass as there body composition
which leads to the right amount of weight as well. However, consistent
monitoring is required because as they age, they start to gain visceral fat.
They usually have a routine life style with regular exercise.

As mentioned earlier, they type has very easy chance of becoming a C-

Shape. Therefore, they have to make sure they maintain regular exercise or
to target to make there body shape into a D-Shape.

-20-
Results Sheets
I-Shapes – Overweight and Obese

This type of graph is mostly found in population group who are severely
obese. It seems like they also have an excess amount of muscle but it is
because of the excess amount of body composition components. In these
case, they require medical attentions as well. For them, their focus shouldn’t
be aesthetics but to reduce down on the fat mass to prevent any adult
diseases caused by excess amount of body fat.

This type of a person is severely obese. Since they are overweight due to
the excess amount of body fat, they will have to control there nutritional
intake as well as continuous exercise. At the same time, monitoring the
muscle mass is vey important since it is directly related to the basal
metabolic rate. The reason why the graph is in I-Shape is because the
body parts are touching, the flow of the current are effected.

-21-
Results Sheets
2. Muscle Fat Analysis – D Shapes

The D-Shapes are found most easily on people who are simply muscular.
This kind of people have moderate weight and fat mass but excess amount
of muscle. Depending on their muscle mass, they can also be overweight
but they wouldn’t be considered as obese since their body weight is mostly
composed of their muscle mass.

Even though, they seem to have a good body overall, they have to check if
that muscle is well balanced throughout the body. Most of the cases, the
upper body muscle is more developed then the lower body.
The reason behind this is because they tend to work more on the upper
body since it can be easily shown off rather than the leg muscles.

-22-
Results Sheets
D-Shapes – Under Weight and Strong

This type of a body shape is most easily found in athletes at a young age.
They are usually underweight since they are very active but most of there
body will be composed of muscle mass. However, it’s important to
maintain the muscle and be cautious to maintain the essential amount of
body fat since fat is also important in fat soluble vitamins, maintaining
cellular membrane, protecting organs and more.

For this type of body shapes, they have to make sure to focus on gaining
certain amount of body fat to keep there body healthy. As they are
increasing the body fat, they will also have to focus on either maintaining
or gaining muscle to maintain a healthy body.

-23-
Results Sheets
D-Shapes – Standard Weight and Strong

They have a strong developed muscle and usually when someone looks
muscular, they show a similar type of a graph. For this type, they focus more
on becoming leaner and what we call “Shredded”. Just like the
Underweight/strong type, it is important for them to maintain certain amount
of fat as well.

This type of a body is usually found in professional athletes. However,

InBody doesn’t consider this kind of a body type as a healthy body since
they have low muscle. InBody prefers a body type with some amount of fat
in the body composition as well. However, there are also researches stating
that gaining muscle for athletes can give negative affect in the
performance. Therefore, close monitoring depending on their season is
required.

-24-
Results Sheets
D-Shapes – Overweight and Strong

This kind of graph will be easily found in professional athletes. For this
body shape, they will be considered as obese if only BMI is used as a
parameter to analyze the body composition. For this kind of population, it’s
not necessary to control any kind of body composition because they are
overweight due to muscle mass rather than body fat mass.

Usually for this type of a body type has a weaker leg compared to their
upper body. Since it is commonly found in body builders, they will be very
muscular. Because the segmental lean analysis shows that the leg muscles
are weaker, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the legs are weaker.

-25-
Results Sheets
Analyzing the Body Shape

Now the question is, why do you require the segregation of body shapes in
analyzing the body composition? The reason behind this is because the way
how you approach them, setting up the goals, planning the workout, the
nutritional intake and many other things to make them healthier or keeping
them in shape are different.
For example, if your client is having a C-Shape, you can motivate them to
become an I-Shape. It’s not going to be easy but when they see the
changes happening in their body, they will get motivated. Once they reach
their first target of becoming an I-Shape, then the next step is to make
them become a D-Shape. Obviously it’s not going to be easy once they
have reached an I-Shape but it won’t be a problem for them since they
have overcome the 1st phase of becoming an I-Shape.

We have mentioned that BMI is not going to be accurate for a muscular

body type. The reason behind this is because BMI is an equation which is
based on height and weight.
𝐵𝑀𝐼 = 𝑘𝑔/𝑚^2
So if someone is overweight due to heavy muscle mass, then obviously
they will be considered as obese based on their weight not on their actual
muscle or fat percentage

-26-
Results Sheets
2. Obesity Analysis

Obesity is Analyzed in 4 different Methods.

1. Analyzing from the Appearance
2. Analyzing the actual fat mass
3. Analyzing the WHR (Waist Hip Ratio)
4. Analyzing the Visceral Fat

In order to analyze more effectively, using the BMI by calculating the weight
and height has its limits. You need to check the ratio of body fat mass
compared to the weight by analyzing the body fat percentage and also
check the visceral fat level since, they have a strong connection with adult
diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. Analyzing the Waist Hip Ratio will
help you identify the life style of a person. From InBody Results Sheet, all of
these parameters can be analyzed through a parameter called Obesity
Analysis.

-27-
 Results Sheets
Skinny Obese Types

This type of a graph is called a “Staircase Shape”. As you can see, the BMI is shorter
compared to the PBF. In this particular example, the BMI is within the normal range
but the PBF is over the normal range. The type of graph is very easily seen in skinny
obese types and average obese population.

Morbid Obese Types

In this type, both the BMI and the PBF is over the normal range. It is very easily found
in morbid obese types they are overweight because of the excess amount of body fat.
Since there BMI is also high, they will have a big appearance as well.

-28-
Results Sheets

Muscular Types

People who are having this kind of a body type will have a very muscular appearance.
They are overweight but it’s not because of the body fat but it’s mainly due to excess
amount of body that. This type of graph can be found in people who are exercising
on regular bases or if they are in the industry where they have to exercise.

As you can see from the three

examples provided above, you get to
see that BMI can’t be the tool in
analyzing someone’s body fat since
people can be obese due to muscle
mass. For example, professional body
builders, WWE Wrestlers, Power Lifters
and many other who are involved in
strength training and muscle building
also are heavy in weight but it’s not
because of fat mass but due to muscle
mass.

On the other when, someone who is

living a sedentary life style may have
the same weight as a professional
body builder. In other words, he will
have the same BMI if he has the same
height. However, most of their body
composition will be composed of body
fat.

-29-
Results Sheets
3. Segmental Lean Analysis

This parameter basically helps you to understand how much muscle there is
in your different segments in the body. Not only that, you can check the
balance between your left side of the body and the right side (left
arm/right arm, left leg. Right leg) and the balance between your upper
body and the lower body as well.

When you add up all the values which are in kilograms, you will get to
understand how much muscle you have in the body. However, you will find
a slight difference between the added values and the Fat Free Mass.

𝑆𝑒𝑔𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 (31.99)

= 𝑅𝐴 2.01 + 𝐿𝐴 1.93 + 𝑇𝑅 17.7 + 𝑅𝐿 5.22 + 𝐿𝐿 (5.13)

-30-
Results Sheets

The 1st graph is a graph of your muscle mass in your right arm compared to your
ideal weight. The 2nd graph is to see whether the muscle you have is sufficient
amount for your current weight. When you are interpreting this result, “this person
has 2.01kg of muscle mass which is 102.1% of what is required”.

Sufficient Amount of Muscle

In analyzing if you are having enough muscle or not, first thing is to check if a
straight line is formed. For this person, there is 6kg of muscle in the right arm which
is 100%. In other words, 6kg of muscle is sufficient enough for his ideal weight as
well as for his current weight.
This type of a graph is more easily found in people who exercise on regular bases.

Low Muscle Mass But Enough

There are certain population which will have such kind of graph. Compared to the
first example, the absolute value of muscle mass may be lesser but in percentage
wise, it is 107%. This is usually found in people who are having lighter body weight.
Even though the muscle mass itself might be lighter but it is still more than enough
for the current body weight. In other words, the muscle this person has is going to
be enough to sustain the body weight.
This type of people are usually having a very lean body type or malnourished

-31-
Results Sheets
Good Muscle Mass But Not Enough

People who show this kind of a graph is are having a good amount of muscle.
Muscle which would be more than what they require. However, if you see the
bottom graph, the graph is extremely shorter compared to the previous two
examples. In other words, this person has 6.5kg of muscle but it is only 89% of
what his body requires. It is when a person is having a good muscle but which is
not enough to sustain his current body weight. In other words, people who are fat
and has more fat mass which composes the body will have such kind of a graph.
For such kind of population, it’s important to focus on losing the body fat rather
than increasing the muscle mass.
Next step is to check if the muscle mass in each segment is balanced or not.

-32-
Results Sheets
Analyzing Muscle Imbalance

In the lower machines such as InBody270, the Segmental Lean Analysis and
Segmental Fat Analysis are not shown in a graph. It is shown in a human figure
with the numbers and evaluate if the muscle mass is under, normal or over. Check
the left arm Segmental Lean Analysis for example. The muscle mass is 1.81kg with
90.2% but the evaluation shows normal. The reason why this is happening is
because the last part “Normal” is based on your current weight. In other words, if
someone is obese and the muscle mass was over 100%, they could still get an
evaluation as “Under” because even if the absolute mass of muscle might be large,
it might still be not enough to sustain the body weight.

-33-
Results Sheets
4. ECW Ratio

ECW Ratio stands for Extracellular Ratio. Machines which are higher than
InBody570 give a total body ECW Ratio Analysis as marked in red.
Segmental ECW Ratio as marked in blue are only available in InBody770
and InBody S10. This is a parameter to analyze the body water imbalance
due to medical complications, aging, malnutrition. By showing the
Segmental ECW Ratio, you get to see which part of the body is suffering
from water retention.

-34-
Results Sheets

In InBody770 and InBody S10, additional Results Sheet called Body Water
Results Sheet is also available. As you can see from the image on the
previous page, this is a page where you can check the water ratio much
more easily to check whether the amount of ECW Ratio which you have is
normal, slightly over or over.
People who are suffering from illnesses, injuries, diabetes, lacking muscle
usually has higher ECW Ratio compared to the normal value. There are
usually two different types of edema.

-35-
Results Sheets

For an average person, the ICW/ECW Ratio is 62:38. The Total Body ECW Ratio will
be shown close to 0.370. There will be certain cases where the ECW Ratio is below
0.360. This doesn’t mean that the person is weak or suffering from any body
water related diseases. It is mainly due to the expanded ICW contents. People who
exercise on regular bases or someone who is in the professional field has higher
level of ICW. The reason for this is pretty simple. During an exercise, there is
something called micro trauma which happens in the body. In other words, you
are damaging your body (muscle fibers) in a micro level. The pain and stiffness
which you get after an exercise is mainly due to the healing process after the
damage. When this happens, your body requires protein and other nutrition to
heal. As you continuously exercise, your body will adapt to this situation and try
to store the nutrition in the body to enhance the healing procedure. ICW in other
words, is a storage of the nutritional intake.

In edema patients, it is the opposite. First of all, there are two different types of
edema; where the ECW expands and where the ICW shrinks. When you have an
injury, joint pains, and hemodialysis, the ECW ratio will obviously expand.
When this happens, there will be some visible swelling as well and some pain.
The second case is the opposite. Athletes gain ICW Ratio when exercising
because they are putting their body in a situation where the body requires more
energy and nutrients to heal and to store energy.
However, what if the person has never exercised before in their life? Then the
body was never put under a situation to heal from such kind of micro traumas.
For that reason, the body doesn’t require to store something in the ICW
therefore it shrinks.
This is very commonly found in female population since female are less active
compared to the male. They won’t feel any pain or swelling happening in the
body because the ECW value would be like a normal population. However, they
will feel very weak, fatigue and get tired more easily compared to the average
population. This population also has a higher chance of being diagnosed as
skinny obese. At a younger age, having a low ICW wouldn’t cause a problem
but as this population grows older, they will suffer from different kinds of adult
diseases because most of their body will be composed of fat.

-36-
Results Sheets
5. InBody Score

The InBody Score is not a diagnosing

tool. It is a score to show you the
current fitness status. The perfect score
is 80 points and it is because 80 is
considered as a passing grade in Korea.
However, people commonly mistake
that the perfect score is 100 and
complain why the points are lesser than
they expected.
Average recommended value would be
somewhere above 70 points. If you
score is below 60 points, it is time to
exercise and reduce the fat content in
the body.
Normally, average female and male has
a score of around 60 points.

There is an equation which is used. InBody Score is an outcome of your weight

control. 1kg of fat mass which needs to be decreased would equal to -1 point and
1kg of muscle gain is would also be -1 points.

𝐈𝐧𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 = 𝟖𝟎 − (𝟏𝐤𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬) − (𝟏𝐤𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧)

For example, this particular person has 68 points. When you check the weight
control, it is required for this person to lose 9.9kg of fat and gain 2.5kg of muscle.
9.9kg of fat will be deduction of 10 points from 80 points which will become 70
points.
From 70 points another 2point will be deducted for the 2.5kg of muscle gain
required.

-37-
Results Sheets

In both male and female it is recommended to have an InBody Score of above

70 points. If it’s below 60 then it’s recommended to start changing the body
composition. There are certain people who are having below 40 points and in
this case, a medical attention is required rather than changing the body
composition because for these population, they would be in a situation where
their body is not ready for an exercise and there is a high chance of getting
injured.

There are certain people who can get above 100 points as well. As we all know,
if someone needs to gain muscle, that much will be deducted from the InBody
Score. However, if someone is having more muscle, it will be added to their
InBody Score. So If someone is having 20kg of more muscle and there InBody
Score is 80, then their InBody score will become 100 points.
There will be certain cases where InBody score will be empty with a message
saying ※ Check Impedance. This happens when the impedance of a person
is not correct due to water fluctuation in the body. We will talk more about this
while we talk about the Impedance.
If a person is suffering from severe edema, the InBody Score won’t be
displayed as well.

InBody Score of a professional Body Builder

-38-
Results Sheets
6. Visceral Fat

InBody770 is the only machine which is able to give the Visceral Fat Area. The
lower models give what is called the Visceral Fat Level. Instead of showing the
values in centimeters, the values are only given in numbers. For example, with
Visceral Fat Level, you can’t identify whether if the Visceral Fat is between
100cm2 or 199cm2. The values are only going to be given as Level 10.
Visceral fat is the fat which is in between the organs. As we have already covered
there are two types of fat; subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. We usually call the
visceral fat as the brown fat and this is the fat which needs to be reduced.
Certain amount of visceral fat is required for the protection of organs but it
becomes a problem is there is too much of it. The recommended values are
under 100cm2. If it’s above 100cm2 it is told that there is a higher chance of
developing diabetes, cardio vascular diseases, hypertension, and many other
adult diseases. There is no such thing as reducing the visceral fat or what we call
target reduction. The only way to reduce the visceral fat is by reducing the
overall body fat which will eventually lead to the reduction of visceral fat.

There can be some cases where the visceral fat level is low but high percent body
fat. In such cases, there is a high chance that the subcutaneous fat of a person is
higher than the visceral fat

-39-
Results Sheets

It is recommended to see the Visceral Fat Area along with the Waist Hip Ratio
as well. Waist-Hip Ratio is one of the parameters which is shown in the
research parameters. As we all know, InBody doesn’t have the function to
directly measure certain parameters.
All of this values started from the impedance which is measured. By analyzing
the fat and the muscle in the body, the Waist-Hip Ratio is estimated so it can’t
be a parameter which is 100% accurate. However, this can be a useful to
analyze whether the person has lot of fat in the abdomen.
If someone has high visceral fat as well as high waist-hip ratio, the person is
basically having lot of fat in the abdomen. However, there will be certain
people who are having high Waist-Hip Ratio but with low Visceral Fat Area. For
such kind of population, you have to check the percent body fat as well.
If someone is having a high Waist-Hip Ratio, low visceral fat and low, percent
body fat, then the person is having a bigger waist due to high muscle mass.
Another example would be someone who is having high Waist-Hip Ratio, low
visceral Fat but high percent body fat. This kind of people will have certain
amount of visceral fat as well but it will be below 100cm2. This would be the
group where they have higher body fat in the subcutaneous area.

The normal range of VFA should

be below 100cm2. If it is above this
value, than it is to be considered
that there is lot of visceral fat.
The gray shade indicates the
buffer depending on the age
group. If someone in the age of 20
has 127.8cm2 as visceral fat area,
than it will be high. However, if
someone in the 50’s are having
the same amount, it will still be
considered fine since it is within
the gray shade.

-40-
Results Sheets
7. Segmental Fat Analysis

Just like how the Segmental Muscle Analysis is shown, fat can also be analyzed in
different segments. On higher machines such as InBody 570 and InBody 770, the
segmental fat analysis will be shown in a graph with the values. The kilograms
will show you the fat mass in that particular area and the graph is shown along
with the percentage to show you how much excess fat you have. The normal
ranges of the segmental fat percentage are between 80% to 160%. This is the
percentage compared to your ideal weight. We have already discussed about this
in the segmental lean analysis. As a review, in the segmental lean analysis there
are two graph for each segment of the body. The first graph is based on the
ideal body weight and the second graph is based on the current body weight.
The percentage of body fat which is shown in this is based on the ideal body
weight. When someone has never exercised in the gym before, they tend to have
heavier fat mass in the upper body. However, if its someone who has exercised in
the gym on regular bases but have rested for couple of years, they tend to have
lower body fat in the upper body compared to their body fat mass.

-41-
Results Sheets

In the mid-segment and low-segment machines such as InBody 370S, InBody 270,
and InBody 120, the segmental fat analysis are shown as a diagram of a human
being. Just like the Segmental Fat Analysis, the first value is the kilogram value.
The percentage is based on the ideal weight and the evaluation is based on the
current weight. For this particular example on the left arm, this person has 1.7kg
of fat mass which is 190% of the ideal weight and which is excess amount for his
current weight.
There is a slight difference between segmental lean analysis. In the segmental lean
analysis, there can be cases where the percentage might be over 100% but the
evaluation will still show as under because it’s not enough for the current weight.
However, as we all know the normal range for segmental fat analysis is between
80% to 160%. So if it’s above 160% the evaluation will be shown as over.

-42-
Results Sheets
8. Phase Angle

Phase angle is reflected based on the reactance of the cellular membrane when
the electric current passes through. This will also be an indicator of how strong
or healthy your cellular membrane is. In other words, it is an indicator to see if
your cell is healthy or not. The frequency which is used to measure the phase
angle is 50kHz.
It is also effected by the nutritional status, age, gender, edema, lacking exercise,
diabetes, and many other medical complications. Average population has a phase
angle between 4.0°~5.0°. As the age is younger it shows above 6.0°as well.

However, when the person is suffering from illnesses, the phase angle can be
extremely low. Considering the physical condition and the medical complication,
Phase Angle can be a very useful tool in monitoring as well as subscribing
prescriptions.

-43-
Results Sheets
9. Impedance

Impedance is the resistance value which is measured by checking the voltage from
the flow of the current in the body. This is also the proof that the InBody is directly
measuring all the segments separately in different frequencies and also a parameter
which can be used to check if the measured results sheet is accurate or not.

1. Impedance is lower as the frequency of the current increases.

2. Trunk impedance is between 10Ω~40Ω.
3. The difference between the left and the right shouldn’t be greater than 30Ω.
4. Check if the impedance of the left and the right is not reversed.

-44-
Results Sheets
9. Impedance

When the frequency increases there is a change in the wave length. In the high
frequency, the wave length is shorter compared to the low frequency.

So what is the benefit of using high frequency and low frequency?

As the frequency is higher, the penetration is greater compared to the low

frequency. The limitation with the early BIA machine was that since it was only
using one low frequency, it was not able to measure the ICW since the
penetration was lesser.

With the use of high frequency, it is able to penetrate through the cell
membrane to measure the ICW. In other words, since the force is stronger, there
will be lesser resistance to higher frequencies.

However, this is not always true. There are certain cases where the impedance
doesn’t drop as the frequency increases. Depending on the environmental
condition (surroundings) and any medical complication in the patient (ex.
Edema) can actually cause a fluctuation in the impedance values.

-45-
Results Sheets

Can you identify the problem in this values?

It will be little difficult to pin point where the problem is occurring but once you
are used to it, it won’t be a problem.

Check the impedance of the trunk from 1kHz. Up until 50kHz, it seems like there
is nothing with it. However, once it reached 250kHz, the impedance value has
increased from 34.0Ω to 46.2Ω.

We call this symptom as a “Reverse” in the impedance. Not only in the trunk, but
there are also cases where this can happen in all different parts of the body.

-46-
Results Sheets

The second important fact is that the trunk impedance should be between 10Ω
to 40Ω. Trunk is the shortest but the widest part of the body therefore the values
of the impedance is the lowest.

If you check the example provided above, it seems like a normal data but the
impedance in the trunk is higher then what is suggested.

In such cases, first thing that needs to be checked is whether if this issue is
happening with everyone or with a specific person. If it’s with everyone, then
there must be something wrong with the machine or something in the
surrounding is effecting the machine.

If it’s only happening with one person, then it’s most probably with the current
condition of the person.

In this example, the impedance is also above 40Ω. However, let’s check her physical
condition.

-47-
Results Sheets

This is a measurement taken from a female who is 157cm tall and 26 years old.
Considering the fact that she is 157cm tall and in her twenties, her body weight is
at 36.3kg which is extremely low. Out of this the skeletal muscle mass is 14.6kg
and body fat mass is 8.3kg. Since she doesn’t have enough muscle in the body,
the body water in her body is also lesser compared to the average population and
therefore, the impedance is higher compared.
Since her muscle mass is extremely low, she will also have very low water level in
the body. Since the water level is low, it will also mean that the resistance in her
body will be higher compared to average female.
As the resistance is higher, there will be higher impedance value as shown in the
image of the impedance values shown below.

-48-
Results Sheets

On the other hand, there are certain cases where the impedance in the trunk is
below 10Ω. People who are in professional body building, or wrestling has large
amount of muscle compared to the average population. For example, there was a
case where the person was 128.4kg in body weight. Out of this, around 68.7kg
was skeletal muscle mass and 11.6kg was the body fat which in percentage wise is
9.1%.
In other words, he is someone who is definitely over weight due to muscle mass.
He has a muscle mass of an average male’s body weight. Since he has a large
amount of muscle, it means that his body water is also higher. Since he has large
amount of body water, it also means that the content of body water is high. As a
result, the impedance in the trunk can be below 10Ω

-49-
Results Sheets

In the example provided above, you can see the difference between the upper
body. When you compare the impedance of the right arm and the left arm, the
difference is above 30Ω.

This particular person was going to hemodialysis through the left arm. As the
dirty blood and the filtered blood is circulating through the left arm, there would
be more water accumulated in the left arm and due to this, the impedance in the
left arm is much lower compared to the right arm

This is most seen in people who are suffering from medical complications such
as the hemodialysis patient or DVT patients. Also who are suffering injuries,
surgeries or even in some specific sports players (tennis, golf, badminton etc.).

An extreme case would be an amputated patient, which will be shown on the

next page.

-50-
Results Sheets

Due to the physiological property in BIA technology, the impedance on the

amputated area will be extremely lower. This is not due to the body water but
due to the different in the length compared to the average group. As a result, the
muscle mass and the fat mass can be either over estimated or under estimated.

Since the overall length is shorter in the amputated patients, there will be less of
everything compared to the original length. However, InBody is measuring the
impedance of the limbs. Since the length has decreased, the impedance will also
decrease. Since the length of the amputated leg is shorter, the impedance of the
same area will be lesser, which is due to the characteristics of the resistance
(Z=ρL/A) effected by the length. Therefore, the measured results of an amputee
can’t be utilized as it is but with a different method

-51-
 Results Sheets

The measured results can still be utilized for monitoring purpose. Since InBody
measure the body in five different segments, the remaining results other than the
amputated area can still be utilized. However, the principles in measuring the
trunk uses the measurements of both arms and both legs therefore, there will be
an effect in the results in the trunk measurement as well.

As long as the length of the amputated area doesn’t change, the measured
results of these areas can be utilized for monitoring purpose. Muscle Mass, Body
Water, ECW Ratio (ECW/TBW) and other parameters in the normal areas can still
be utilized.

However, the total muscle mass, total fat mass, percent body fat (%) can’t be used
since it includes the trunk as well as the amputated parts of the body.

Under Normal Over

Right Arm

Left Arm

Trunk

Right Leg

Left Leg

-52-
Results Sheets

The last precaution while checking the impedance is that the impedance of the
right and the left part needs to cross checked for a reversed impedance. It is
not a common symptom but it happens occasionally on certain patients. Usually
if the impedance on the right leg is higher, then it remains high in all
frequencies. However, there are certain cases where the impedance is higher on
the low frequencies but lower in the higher frequencies.
It may sound very similar to the explanation given on the first page where the
impedance of a particular frequency is reversed. However, there is a clear
difference between these two examples. The first example is when a certain
impedance value all of a sudden is higher compared to the previous value but
after that, it decreases again.
However, this particular case is when the impedance is reversed on group of
frequencies. Instead of a reverse in one particular frequency, this happens with
all low frequencies or all high frequencies. The main reason for causing such
kind of a wrong impedance is considered to be due to the condition of a
patient who is taking the measurement. However, it doesn’t mean that the
measurement is wrong. It is one of the symptoms which is shown while taking a
measurement on edema patients.
As you can see in the example provided, this particular person has higher
impedance in the low frequencies (1kHz, 5kHz, and 50kHz) in the right leg but
in the higher frequencies (250kHz, 500kHz, and 1000kHz) the impedance values
are higher in the left leg.

-53-