We Use the Latest Technology:
InBody 520 Body Composition Analyzer

Weight alone is not a clear indication of good health because it doesn't distinguish how many pounds are fat and how many pounds are lean body mass. At Advanced Medical Weight Loss Augusta we use state-of-the-art technology to help us plan your medical weight loss program.

The information we gather using this technology can tell us if you are at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, osteoporosis or metabolic syndrome (Syndrome X).  

We evaluate our patients in a variety of ways. To facilitate our pre-program testing, we use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Testing (BIA) using the InBody 520 from Biospace, the leading manufacturer of physician-grade BIA devices. We use it to perform regular comprehensive body composition testing on all patients.

The InBody 520 has achieved a 98% accuracy correlation with DEXA, the gold standard in body composition analysis.

This technology provides a lot of insight into our patients' metabolism. While it accurately measures the overall weight, it also goes much further by providing the composition of that weight. It does this by distinguishing between Fat Mass (FM), total body water and Fat Free Mass (FFM) which is everything except fat and total body water.

Technically, the InBody 520 determines fat from water and lean muscle by testing the body's resistance or impedance not only in the trunk of the body but also both arms and legs by sending a mild electrical wave to each of these areas. In doing this, we can determine body composition for each of five segments, two arms, two legs and the torso. Fat provides more resistance than water which is a better conductor, so from this the InBody 520 can determine the Total Body Water (TBW) and then predict the Body Fat Percentage (BFP).

Men have 3-5 percent essential fat and their ideal range is 12-20 percent BF with clinical obesity starting at 25 percent. At 29 percent body fat. most men will have metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance). Women have 10-15 percent essential fat and their ideal range is 20-30 percent body fat with clinical obesity starting at 32 percent. At 37 percent most women will have metabolic syndrome.

Beyond body composition testing, waist and hip measurements can provide very useful information. Considerable scientific evidence reveals that the amount of fat accumulation around the waist is much more dangerous (metabolically) than fat elsewhere in the body. Women who have a waist circumference of 35 inches or more and men who have a waist circumference of 40 inches or more are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These are just some of the ways we evaluate the patient's risk for disease as well as their overall progress.

More About the Technology

InBody uses eight polar tactile electrodes where a different electrical voltage and current are sent through the inner body, resulting in five different impedance readings for the body’s trunk and four limbs. This exclusive in-depth analysis of the InBody yields accurate results for total body composition, and is able to measure segmental muscle mass as well. Its segmental analysis method is unique and patented technology.

Accurate impedance measurement of trunk is the key to bio impedance technology and no population specific statistics (empirical factors) are used in calculation. High accuracy is guaranteed by precisely assessing your trunk.

All data solely depends on the measurements, not relying on gender or age. Multi-frequency measurement provides the precise amount of body water: ICW (Intracellular Water) and ECW (Extracellular water). Exact measurement of body water guarantees accuracy

The Tactile Electrode System ensures an enhanced accuracy by fixing the measuring region. The fixed measuring regions of the body guarantee high reproducibility, also minimizing error rates due to different placement of electrodes in your hands and feet.

The Inbody 520 produces the following reports:

  • Total Body Water, Protein, Osseous/non-Osseous minerals
  • Body Fat Mass
  • Skeletal Muscle Mass
  • Soft Lean Mass
  • Fat Free Mass
  • Weight
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Percent Body Fat
  • Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR),
  • Segmental Muscle Mass
  • Segmental Muscle Mass Ratio
  • Muscle Distribution Model
  • Nutrition assessment (protein, minerals, fats, edema level)
  • Body Symmetry
  • Body Strength
  • Suggested Weight
  • Suggested Weight Control
  • Suggested Fat Control
  • Suggested Muscle Control
  • Fitness Score
  • Obesity Degree
  • Body Cell Mass (BCM)
  • Bone Mineral Content (BMC)
  • Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
  • Arm Circumference (AC)
  • Arm Muscle Circumference (AMC).
  • Provides Segmental Impedance values at multiple frequencies.
  • 15 individual impedance measurement values (5, 50, 500 kHz at each arm, leg, and the trunk).