Fat mass, skeletal muscle, body water and visceral fat. More useful than BMI.
Why this test is orderedWeight & MetabolismHormones & MidlifeEnergy, Performance & Recovery
Two people at the same weight can have very different body composition. This is the measure that shows real change during a programme.
A body composition test breaks your weight into the parts that matter: fat mass, skeletal muscle, body water and visceral fat. Two people at the same weight can differ enormously, and that is why the scale alone cannot tell you whether a programme is working.
This test is ordered after a consultation, and the results are read with you in a separate session.
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| BMI | Body composition test | |
|---|---|---|
| What it reads | Weight against height only | Fat, muscle and water separated |
| Weight down, muscle held | Looks the same | Visible |
| Weight down, muscle lost too | Looks the same | Visible |
| Use during a programme | Limited | Repeated every four to six weeks to read the trend |
A single number matters less than the trend. During a weight programme, what we want to see is fat falling while muscle holds. If weight drops but muscle drops with it, metabolic rate falls and the weight comes back. Therefore we repeat this measurement every four to six weeks while a programme is active.
Impedance analysis gives an estimate rather than an absolute value like DEXA. It is very good at detecting change in the same person over time, and less useful for comparing two different people. We read results alongside a metabolic assessment and your clinical history. Healthy body fat ranges vary by age and sex; see the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Book a measurement.
Every iLIV guide is written and reviewed under our editorial standards, and each one carries the name of the reviewing doctor together with their MMC registration number.
BMI only divides weight by height squared. It does not know how much of that weight is muscle and how much is fat. Someone who lifts regularly can read as overweight although their body fat is low. Conversely, someone with a normal BMI can carry high visceral fat, the kind that sits around the organs. If you want to check BMI first, use our BMI calculator and read the guide to calculating BMI.
It is an estimate rather than an absolute value. Very good for tracking change in one person, less precise for comparing two people.
Yes, although water retention can lift the reading slightly. Tell us so the result is interpreted correctly.
Every four to six weeks while a programme is active.
The results decide which of these is relevant. Nothing is arranged before the consultation.
An initial consultation to understand your situation before any testing is recommended.
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