Body Composition Testing

A Matter of Fat

Body composition is directly related to health.  A normal balance of body fat is associated with good health and longevity.  An unhealthy body composition refers to carrying too much fat in comparison to lean (muscle) tissue.  As this ratio increases so do the health risks, and this often leads to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, hormone-related problems (eg. infertility), and more.

This is why measuring body composition is so important.  At the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Marianna Ledenac uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) which is a quick, non-invasive, accurate and objective measurement of body fat and lean body mass (muscle).  It also provides a measurement of fluid and body mass that can be a critical assessment tool for your current state of health.

Some of the indicators of health and vitality reported in the BIA results include:

  • lean body mass & fat mass
  • cellular health and cell membrane integrity
  • basal metabolic rate
  • nutritional status and toxicity status
  • hydration level

There is a lot more to healthy weight management than what the scale shows.

BIA encourages early detection of an improper balance in body composition, which allows for earlier intervention and prevention.  It is a vital component to the development of an effective, personalized nutrition and eating plan in our Healthy Weight & FirstLine Therapy Program.  BIA also serves to measure progress as health improves and to monitor weight loss, to see what changes occurred in fat mass and lean body mass.

Understanding the BIA Results

There are several measurements of importance that are reported in the BIA results and these are discussed in detail during a visit with Dr. Ledenac so that the patient understands what these measurements mean in terms of their health and what steps they need to take to make improvement.

Dr. Marianna Ledenac is a naturopathic physician providing comprehensive health care.  In addition to a variety of wellness assessments and testing, she utilizes body composition testing in her patients when appropriate.

Schedule an appointment