BMI – What Is It?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index, a statistical term derived from height and weight.
It is closely linked to body fat and health outcomes. Over 50 organizations,
including the US Government and the World Health Organization, have adopted
BMI guidelines. BMI is inversely related to fitness, meaning that the higher your
BMI, the less likely you are to be fit. Every time your body analysis monitor reads
your weight and calculates your body fat, it also calculates your BMI. Along with
your weight and your body fat measurements, the BMI reading gives you yet one
more tool to monitor your health and fitness.
Body Water/Hydration Levels
General health standards indicate that one should consume approximately
64 oz of water per day from food and liquids to maintain a healthy level of hydra-
tion. Maintaining a good hydration level will help improve your overall health and
general feeling of well-being. If your hydration levels are lower than average, you
should increase your water intake accordingly.
Body water/hydration level – how is it measured?
The hydration level is measured by using Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA).
The same analysis that is used to calculate your body fat is used to calculate your
hydration level. Taking into consideration a user’s age and gender, a calculation is
made that determines the percentage of water.
Please note:
It is not recommended to take the hydration measurements in
certain situations, such as following exercise, after drinking a glass of water, or
directly prior to, during or shortly after menstrual cycles. Hydration may not be at
normal levels during these times.
Bone Mass – What Is It?
Bone is a living, growing tissue. During youth, your body makes new bone tis-
sue faster than it breaks down older bone. In young adulthood, bone mass is at
its peak; after that, bone loss starts to outpace bone growth, and bone mass
decreases. But it’s a long and very slow process that can be slowed down even
more through calcium-rich diets and weight-bearing exercise.
Who should monitor bone mass?
Most people have no need to monitor bone mass, but certain groups – post-
menopausal women, men and women with certain diseases, and anyone who
takes medications that affect bone tissue – might want to watch for decreases in
bone mass. The bone mass reading is to be used as guide only. Watch for trends
over time and contact your healthcare provider for a more detailed explanation of
the readings and with any questions or concerns.
