Medical Body Composition Analysis with the Seca mBCA
Weight measured with a traditional weighing scale does not differentiate between the percentage of fat, muscle and water in different compartments of the body. A body composition analyzer uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to achieve such measurements, meaning a low electric current is circulated through the body. The resistance of electrical flow is translated into the percentage of body fat.
BIA results can vary greatly between different body composition analyzers. The seca mBCA, which was brought and introduced for the first time by us in Cyprus, is the only body composition analyzer with hand rails in which hand-held electrodes are incorporated. This not only serves as a support for fragile populations, it also ensures that a person is always measured in the same position for reproducible results. Seca has also compared the results of the mBCA with those of the respective gold standards* through validation studies. In addition, it is the first device to consider differences between ethnic groups, making the seca mBCA suitable for medical purposes due to its incredible precision. The reliability of these results make it possible to monitor a person's progress over time by measuring weight, fat mass (incl. visceral fat), fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass (left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, torso), total body water (extracellular water, intracellular water), resting and total energy expenditure, values which are highly relevant in the prediction of health risks.
Measurements are included in the first nutrition appointments but can also be carried out independently (e.g. cachexia, athletics, body building etc.)
*Gold standards used:
ADP: Air-Displacement-Plethysmography
D2O: Deuterium Dilution
DEXA: Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
NaBr: Natriumbromid-Dilution