Bioimpedance body composition

Weight and BMI don’t tell the whole story. Two people of the same weight can have very different amounts of body fat, muscle and fluid — and those differences matter for blood pressure, heart health and metabolic risk. Bioimpedance analysis works by passing a very small, completely painless electrical signal through the body using electrodes on the hands and feet (or by standing on a specialised scale). Fat, muscle and water conduct the signal differently: water and lean tissue conduct it easily, while fat resists it. By measuring this resistance, the device estimates your body fat percentage, lean (muscle) mass, and total body water — including how that water is split between the inside and outside of your cells. These measurements help us in several ways: judging whether excess body fat (especially around the abdomen) is contributing to your blood pressure or cholesterol, spotting fluid retention or dehydration that can affect blood pressure and heart function, and tracking real changes in fat and muscle over time during a weight-loss or prevention programme — rather than relying on the scales alone. The test takes only a few minutes, you stay fully clothed (removing shoes and socks), and the results are interpreted by your consultant alongside your other cardiovascular measurements. It is not suitable for people with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, or during pregnancy — please let us know if either applies.