Bio Impedance Analysis
This is just one method for testing your body composition, it is, however a very convenient and portable way of performing a body composition assessment to determine body fat percentage, total body water and fat-free mass.
In this method you are either connected to electrodes on your hands and feet or use a cheaper alternative in the form of scales or hand held devices, a small current (about 0.4-0.8 amps) is passed though the body, it’s OK, you won’t feel anything. Whichever devioce is used, they all achieve the same things with varying accuracy and likewise range in price from affordable to very expensive. The electrodes measure resistance as it passes through the body, it works on the principle that the resistance is inversely related to fat-free mass contained within the body, a body fat percentage can then be calculated.