1. Do not eat for 4 hours prior to your visit
2. Do not exercise for 12 hours prior to your visit
3. Do not consume alcohol for 24 hours prior to your visit
4. Drink at least 1 quart of water one hour before your visit (you may void as
needed)
5. Do not drink caffeine before your visit
Most people are concerned about their weight. Diet fads abound and many of us live by the numbers on our scale. While most people recognize that being overweight or obese puts our health at risk, most do not realize that the number on the scale (or our ability to fit into those blue jeans) is only one piece of a complex puzzle. Body composition, the proportion of lean vs. fat body tissue and our fluid status is another critical piece. An individual can "look" thin but this can be due to loss of muscle. Her weight will be low despite the fact that she is still "overfat" because muscle weighs more than fat. The scale is happy, but her body is not. Risks of an unhealthy body composition include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and hormonal imbalance among others.
While not a perfect science, Bioimpedance Analysis or BIA, can give you some insight to your body composition. Electrodes are placed on your wrist and ankle and a small current is run between the electrodes (similar to an electrocardiogram). The amount of current transmitted is dependent upon the nature of the tissue it travels through (fat vs. muscle vs. water). By evaluating this we can estimate your body composition to determine whether your muscle:fat ratio is in a healthy place. Armed with this information a healthy plan for optimizing your body composition can be personalized for you.
For more information, contact us at (603) 448-7344 or email nurse@hygeiawomen.com.