Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) Terminology

Body Fat - Total Mass of adipose tissue as we know can affect overall health. Excessive accumulation, particularly visceral fat (around internal organs), is associated with metabolic disorders such as:

  1. Obesity,
  2. Type 2 diabetes,
  3. Cardiovascular disease.

Lean Body Mass – Is the non-fat tissue of the body and includes:

  1. Muscle Tissue.
  2. Intracellular Water. (ICW)
  3. Extracellular Water. (ECW)

Dry Lean Weight: Is Lean Body Mass minus Total body water and includes Bone and lean tissue.

Lean tissue is crucial for overall health and functionality. It plays a significant role in:

  1. Metabolism,
  2. Strength,
  3. Endurance,
  4. And general well-being.

Maintaining or increasing lean tissue mass is often a focus in fitness and health programs, as it can improve metabolic rate, physical performance, and reduce the risk of various diseases.

Total Body Water (TBW) – The volume of water in the body. Includes Intra & Extracellular water.

Extracellular Water (ECW) – Is the fluid found in the extracellular compartment. It includes plasma, lymph and intestinal fluid.

Intracellular Water (ICW) – Is the fluid found inside the cells of lean tissue. Higher Intracellular fluid levels are found in people with higher muscle mass.

Body Cell Mass (BCM) – Represents the metabolically active component of the lean body mass. In other words, the protein rich compartment involved in energy expenditure. BCM consists of:

  1. Muscle Tissue
  2. Organs
  3. Intracellular Water.

Phase Angle (PA) - The phase angle is a non-invasive measurement and provides valuable insights into body composition and health that are not captured by simple measurements of weight or body mass index (BMI).

Higher phase angle values reflect a larger cellular mass, better cell membrane integrity and better cell function. An average PA in normal health people is between 5 and 8.