|
Weight alone does not necessarily give a clear indication of good health or reflect your progress if you are dieting or exercising regularly. Stepping on a Tanita Monitor gives you the true picture by providing essential information about your body and how it is changing.
The key components of your body are water, muscle, fat and bone all of which can be monitored depending on which Body Composition Monitor or Body Fat/Water Monitor you choose.
Body Fat:
Body fat percentage is the amount of body fat as a percentage of your total body weight
Everybody needs fat to be healthy. Body fat is vital to basic bodily functions such as regulating temperature, storing vitamins and cushioning joints. Yet, too much fat can damage your health. Reducing excess levels of body fat has shown to reduce the risk of certain conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
Total Body Water:
The total amount of fluid in the body expressed as a percentage of total weight
Water plays a vital role in many of the body's processes and is found in every cell, tissue and organ. Maintaining a healthy total body water percentage will ensure the body functions efficiently and will reduce the risk of developing associated health problems. Being well hydrated helps concentration levels, sports performance, helps improve skin quality and general well-being.
As a general guide the average total body water percentage ranges for a healthy adult are:
- Female - 45% to 60%
- Male - 50% to 65%
Muscle Mass:
The weight of muscle in your body
Muscles play an important role as they act as the body's engine in consuming energy (calories). As you exercise more, your muscle mass increases which in turn accelerates the rate of energy (or calories) consumed. Increasing your muscle mass will raise your metabolic rate helping you reduce excess body fat levels and lose weight the healthy way.
Basal Metabolic Rate:
The daily minimum level of energy or calories your body requires in a 24 hour period when resting (including sleeping) to function effectively including your respiratory system and circulatory organs, neural system, liver, kidneys and other organs.
About 70% of calories consumed every day are used for your basal metabolism. The more vigorous the activity levels, the more calories are burned. Increasing your muscle mass helps raise your metabolic rate, which increases the number of calories burnt and helps to decrease body fat levels.
Metabolic Age:
Compares your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) to the average age associated with that level of metabolism
If your metabolic age is higher than your actual age, it is an indication that you need to improve your metabolic rate. Increased exercise will build healthy muscle tissue, which will improve your BMR age.
Visceral Fat:
Fat in the abdominal cavity (stomach) surrounding the vital organs
Research has shown that even if your weight and body fat remains constant, as you get older the distribution of fat changes and is more likely to shift to the trunk area. Ensuring you have a healthy level of visceral fat reduces the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and may delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Healthy Visceral Fat Indicator:
An on screen display will indicate whether your visceral fat is within the healthy range.
- Low Risk - 1-12
- Higher Risk - 13-59
Physique Rating:
Assesses your physique according to the ratio of body fat and muscle mass within your body
As you become more active and reduce the amount of body fat, your physique rating will also change accordingly. Even though your weight may not change your muscle mass and body fat levels may be changing making you healthier and changing your body shape.
-
Small Frame Overfat - This person seems to have a healthy body type based on physical appearance; however, they have a high body fat percentage with low muscle mass level
-
Medium Frame Overfat - This person has a high body fat percentage, with a moderate muscle mass level
-
Large Frame Overfat - This person has both a high body fat percentage and a high muscle mass
-
Low Muscle & Average Body Fat % - This person has an average body fat percentage and a less than average muscle mass level
-
Average Muscle & Average Body Fat % - This person has average levels of both body fat and muscle mass
-
High Muscle & Average Body Fat % - This person has an average body fat percentage and and higher than normal muscle mass level
-
Low Muscle & Low Fat - This person has both a lower than normal body fat percentage and muscle mass level
-
Thin & Muscular (Athlete) - This person has lower than normal body fat percentage while having adequate muscle mass
-
Very Muscular (Athlete) - This person has lower than normal body fat percentage while having above average muscle mass
Bone Mass:
Indicates the weight of bone (bone mineral level, calcium or other minerals) in the body
Research has demonstrated that exercise and the development of muscle tissue is related to stronger, healthier bones. Whilst bone structure is unlikely to undergo noticeable changes in a short period, it is important that you develop and maintain healthy bones by having a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.
Average Estimated Bone Mass st/lb (kg) |
