What is BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis)?
The Teladoc Health WM2000 weight scale measures more than just weight. Body composition mode measures muscle mass and body fat percentages. To make these measurements, the connected scale uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). But what is BIA? BIA is a simple, fast and noninvasive way of estimating body composition. Body composition describes the percentages of tissues in the body like fat, bone and muscle.
BIA works by sending a low-level electrical current through the body. You don’t feel anything at all—it just takes a few seconds! Different types of tissues in the body conduct electricity at different speeds. Tissues in the body that have high water and electrolyte content, like muscle, are good at conducting electricity. Fat tissue, however, prevents or impedes electrical current.
A BIA device measures your body’s overall resistance to electrical current. Based on that as well as other information like your height and sex, it can estimate total body fat and lean body mass.
When you use your connected scale for the first time, the app will ask you if you’d like to turn on body composition mode. This is the setting that allows the scale to measure body composition using BIA. In the app, you can choose to allow body composition measurements (muscle mass and body fat percentages) for a holistic picture of your weight loss trends. Find the body composition opt-in in the Weight Management onboarding program or Settings page. You can change this mode online and in the app at any time.
We recommend that most people opt in! Body composition mode can give you valuable insights into your health trends.
There are a few categories of people, however, who should keep body composition mode off:
Those with an implanted electronic device, like a pacemaker
Individuals who are pregnant
The manufacturer of the Teladoc Health WM2000 weight scale has not tested or approved the scale for use in the above groups. If you have already turned body composition mode on, you can deactivate it at any time in the app settings.
Questions about whether BIA is right for you? Contact your healthcare provider to learn more. You can also explore more about the benefits of using body composition mode here.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4118362/
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-weight/measuring-fat/
https://espen.org/documents/BIA1.pdf
CLC016639.A
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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.