Unlocking Your Health Potential: The Benefits of InBody Scans

In the quest for better health and fitness, understanding your body composition is crucial. An InBody scan is a non-invasive body composition analysis that utilizes patented technology to measure key metrics such as body fat percentage, muscle mass, and water distribution. By sending electrical voltages through the body, the InBody scan produces impedance readings for the trunk and limbs, providing a comprehensive overview of your body’s composition. This tool is invaluable for tracking changes over time and crafting a personalized fitness and nutrition plan tailored to your unique needs. Schedule yours today!

At Valle Health we use InBody bioimpedance machines. InBody is a trusted brand, whose results are validated in many studies. These machines have been used in the highest levels of academic research. 

We chose these machines because the scans can be easily done in the office: they only require you to remove your socks and only take about 30 seconds, and don’t expose you to anything harmful. This means you can check your scan at every office visit to check your progress to your goals. 

There are other devices that add a visual component (Fit 3D). This requires you to undress to your under clothes. Other methods use only pictures, but again are limited by your attire. 

So, why is all this important? This mostly hinges on muscle mass. If you are under-muscled, you may be a normal weight, but at risk for other serious problems. If you are heavily muscled, you may be told that you are overweight or obese, when you are actually at the peak of health. If you are overweight and under-muscled, you need to cautiously drop your weight while ensuring the lean mass (muscle) lost is minimal. Your InBody scans will track the progress clearly. 

The Inbody gives measures of:

• Body Fat Percentage

• Lean Mass

• Visceral Fat Mass

This is Dr. Ward’s Inbody Scan from April 2025

At the bottom you can see the chart of my progress over the past ~8 months since I had my first scan when I purchased the machine. Inbody also has a great free App that makes the results accessible through your smartphone.

Inbody scans are complimentary for Valle Health members, and available as an a la carte option for non-members.

I credit my gains over the past four months to my time at HellBender Fitness

Here are two scenarios to consider: 

- Height: 5’10”

- Weight: 220 lbs

- BMI: 31.6 (obesity)

This person could be any of the following: 

1. High Body Fat/Low Muscle Mass (metabolically unhealthy)

2. Mod. Body Fat/Mod. Muscle mass (metabolically unhealthy)

3. Low Body Fat/High Muscle Mass (metabolically healthy)

And each with the following needed recommendations:

1. Increase muscle mass before attempt at weight loss

2. Target Fat Loss with caution to not lose lean mass

3. Maintain current weight and body composition

This patient has elevated body fat (PBF) and visceral fat, along with low muscle mass (SMM). This is consistent with metabolic dysfunction. It is predictive of a variety of chronic diseases and frailty.

This patient needs to prioritize building muscle, but has to be careful not to increase body fat.

This patient has an ideal body composition: high muscle mass and low body fat. This patient is extremely fit, and his priority is to maintain that fitness without injury.

Notice that these patients have nearly identical BMI, but completely different body composition.

Next: 

- Height: 5’5”

- Weight: 120 lbs

- BMI: 20 (lower end of normal)

Again, this person could run the range of: 

1. Mod. Body Fat/Low Muscle Mass (metabolically unhealthy)

2. Normal Body Fat/Mod. Muscle mass (metabolically healthy)

3. Normal Body Fat/High Visceral Fat/Normal Muscle Mass (metabolically healthy)

With the following needed counseling:

1. Increase Muscle Mass while maintaining weight

2. Maintain Current Body Composition and weight

3. Target visceral fat loss and increase lean mass

This patient has a normal BMI, but elevated body fat and low muscle mass. This is consistent with poor metabolic health, and predicts both chronic disease and frailty.

This is a common female phenotype. The prescription for this patient is to prioritize adding lean mass without being concerned about an increase in body weight.

This patient also has a normal BMI and shows a picture of good metabolic health. She has adequate muscle mass along with low-normal body fat.

This patient should continue to build muscle, without paying attention to changes in body weight. She can repeat that scan to confirm the weight she puts on is lean mass.

Our InBody scans will provide a detailed breakdown of your body composition and we will formulate a plan to help you make needed changes or to maintain the results you’ve already achieved. 

While BMI is a powerful predictor of health outcomes, the measures we will routinely rely on at Valle Health are much more so:

How to Prepare for Your InBody Scan

To ensure the most accurate results from your InBody scan, proper preparation is essential. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Hydrate well the day before: Staying hydrated helps improve the accuracy of the scan.

• Avoid caffeine on the day of the scan: Caffeine can affect hydration levels and skew results.

• Avoid eating 3-4 hours before the scan: This helps ensure that food intake does not influence body composition readings.

• Avoid exercising 6-12 hours before the scan: Exercise can temporarily alter body composition metrics.

• Avoid wearing jewelry: Metal can interfere with the electrical currents used in the scan.

• Avoid wearing clothing that covers your feet and hands: This ensures that the electrodes can make proper contact with your skin.

• Go barefoot: Standing on the scanner without shoes allows for accurate readings.

How Does It Work?

The InBody scan employs bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure body composition. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Electrodes: Sensor electrodes touch different parts of your body, including your hands and feet.

2. Electrical currents: The scanner sends multiple low-level electrical currents through your body at various frequencies.

3. Impedance readings: The scanner takes up to six impedance readings for each limb and the trunk, measuring how easily the electrical currents pass through different tissues.

4. Data analysis: A computer analyzes the collected data to create a detailed report of your body composition, including insights into fat mass, muscle mass, and hydration levels.

How Accurate is the InBody Scan?

The InBody scan is known for its high level of accuracy in measuring body composition. While no method is perfect, the technology behind the InBody scan has been validated through extensive research and clinical studies. It provides reliable data that can help you monitor your progress and make informed decisions about your health and fitness journey.

Conclusion

InBody scans are a powerful tool for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of their body composition. By providing detailed insights into fat and muscle distribution, these scans can help you track your progress and tailor your fitness and nutrition plans to achieve your health goals. With proper preparation and a commitment to your health, an InBody scan can be a game-changer in your wellness journey. Consider scheduling your InBody scan today and take the first step toward unlocking your health potential!