Lean Body Mass or fat free mass percentage is an scientific prediction of the percentage of the total body mass that is not composed of adipose tissue, referred to as Fat Mass, but rather is composed of muscle, bone, organ tissue, blood, and everything else. This index is often used as a means to monitor progress during a diet or as a measure of physical fitness for certain sports, such as body building. It is more accurate as a measure of excess body weight than body mass index (BMI) since it differentiates between the weight of muscle mass and that of the fat mass while BMI lump all masses into one figure. However, its popularity is less than BMI because equipment required to perform the body fat percentage is now readily available and with minimal skill required to perform the measurement. Valhalla’s BC1i Body Composition Scales readily solves this measurement problem.

Total body fat percentage consists of essential fat and storage fat. Essential fat is that amount necessary for maintenance of life and reproductive functions. The percentage for women is greater than that for men, due to the demands of childbearing and other hormonal functions. Essential fat is 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. Storage fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen. The minimum recommended total body fat percentage exceeds the essential fat percentage value reported above.

Body composition analysis is gaining popularity as a way to measure health, beyond measuring weight alone. Most health & fitness facilities offer some form of body composition analysis. Unfortunately many of these facilities are still using antiquated skin-fold calipers which date back to almost the turn of the century. To cope with the demand for quicker, easier and more accurate testing methods, Valhalla Scientific has responded by providing a new and improved bioimpedance body composition analyzer, model BC1. It must be pointed out that many others, accepted as reliable, have not experienced academic validation nor or blessed by medical institutions and some are no more than fancy marketing tools. The BC1 has undergone extensive testing and validation through independent parties, Universities, USDA, etc., are found to be extremely accurate and repeatable. Please refer to our University Validation Study.