Why Body Composition Testing With Dr. Lou Beats BMI for Assessing Health
For decades, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been the flawed go-to metric for assessing whether someone is at a healthy weight. However, BMI has significant limitations, and body composition testing offers a much more accurate and insightful way to evaluate overall health and fitness. A recent piece produced by NPR brought eyes toward testing that is far more accurate than the generic BMI calculation and as you’ll see in the video below, Dr.Lou was way ahead of the times. Here’s why body composition analysis is superior to BMI:
1. BMI doesn’t distinguish between fat and muscle
The fundamental flaw with BMI is that it only considers height and weight, without differentiating between fat mass and lean mass. This means a muscular athlete could have the same BMI as someone who is overweight, despite having very different body compositions and health profiles. Body composition testing, on the other hand, directly measures fat mass, muscle mass, and other components to give a true picture of your body makeup. Dr. Lou’s “RJL SYSTEMS” lab grade body composition test can help you with baseline readings and subsequent readings to determine whether or not your fitness and nutrition efforts are yielding the results you would expect. In the following video from 7 YEARS AGO, body composition testing with Dr. Lou is explained. This testing has been used in Dr. Lou’s office for patients and non-patients for over 10 years. It’s nothing new, it’s just new to some.
2. Body composition reveals visceral fat levels
Not all body fat is created equal. Visceral fat, which accumulates around the organs in your abdomen, is particularly dangerous and linked to increased health risks. BMI gives no insight into visceral fat levels, while many body composition tests can specifically measure this important metric.
3. Muscle mass matters for health
Having adequate muscle mass is crucial for metabolic health, bone strength, and overall functionality as we age. BMI completely ignores muscle mass, while body composition testing quantifies it. This allows you to track whether you’re maintaining or building muscle over time. The RJL Systems body composition test used by Dr. Lou for over a decade now, gives you lean muscle mass measurements. Just what you need to better understand your metabolism, your strength potential, and your muscular integrity.
4. Body composition testing motivates positive changes
Seeing a breakdown of your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and other metrics provides much more actionable information than a simple BMI number. This data can help you set specific goals and stay motivated as you work to improve your body composition through diet and exercise.
5. It’s more accurate for diverse body types
BMI tends to be less accurate for certain demographics, including very tall or short individuals, older adults, and some ethnic groups. Body composition testing provides individualized data that is relevant regardless of your body type or background. If your doctor says you are overweight or obese based on your BMI, prove them wrong.
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6. Tracking progress is more meaningful
As you work to improve your health and fitness, body composition testing allows you to see nuanced changes that BMI might miss. You may be gaining muscle while losing fat, resulting in no change to BMI but significant improvements in your actual body composition and health.
7. It provides insight into metabolic health
Many body composition tests also measure metrics like basal metabolic rate and phase angle, which can give insight into your overall metabolic health and cellular integrity. This information goes far beyond what a simple BMI calculation can tell you. Your phase angle reading is especially important for overall health and adaptation of your body to stress. Stay tuned for a blog post coming soon on the topic of “Phase Angle”.
While BMI can be a generic quick screening tool, historically of little value, body composition testing offers a far more comprehensive and accurate assessment of your health status. Whether you’re an athlete looking to optimize performance or someone focused on improving overall wellness, body composition analysis provides the detailed insights you need to reach your goals. Consider asking your healthcare provider about body composition testing options or look into facilities in your area that offer this valuable service.
Dr. Lou Jacobs has been coaching people on improving their body composition for over 20 years. For the past 10 years, Dr. Lou has provided Bio Impedance Analysis body composition testing to patients, non-patients, and coaching clients. He has the solutions if you have the will. Dr. Lou is located at 138 St. John Street in Portland and is always accepting new clients for body composition testing as well as tele-coaching for weight loss, performance, and improving one’s health through non-surgical, drug free solutions. To reach Dr. Lou’s manager, call (207) 774-6251.
Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771660/
[2] https://www.stevegranthealth.com/articles-posts/assessing-body-composition-the-pros-and-cons/
[3] https://www.medicinenet.com/how_to_improve_body_composition_based_on_science/article.htm
[4] https://www.americansportandfitness.com/blogs/fitness-blog/7-tips-to-improve-your-body-composition-and-lose-weight
[5] https://www.elevatedhealth.md/blog/benefits-of-taking-a-body-composition-test/
[6] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-body-composition
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769821/
[8] https://hyatttraining.com/body-composition-vs-bmi/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10711108/
[10] https://visbody.com/blog/ways-to-improve-your-body-composition-a-comprehensive-guide/
[11] https://inbodyusa.com/blogs/inbodyblog/7-mistakes-to-avoid-while-trying-to-improve-your-body-composition/
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9977890/
[13] https://goshenhealth.com/blog/bmi-vs-body-fat-which-number-is-more-important
[14] https://www.styku.com/blog/measure-body-composition
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445161/
[16] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ways-to-measure-body-fat
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8399582/
[18] https://www.trifectanutrition.com/blog/what-is-body-composition-and-how-to-measure-it
[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9103835/
[20] https://www.cnet.com/health/fitness/yes-you-can-lose-fat-and-gain-muscle-at-the-same-with-this-strategy/