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BODY COMPOSITION INDEX

Your body is mainly composed of muscle, fat and water. When you exercise more or start dieting, your body composition will change, even if your weight stays the same. By measuring your body composition, it can tell you the ratio of muscle and fat inside your body, and other useful data like Total Body Water and Metabolic Age. A body composition monitor gives you a complete picture of your own health and fitness level, allowing you to review and design an effective diet & exercise plan towards a healthier life.

Body Fat (%) Visceral Fat Rating Muscle Mass Muscle Quality Score Total Body Water (%) Body Mass Index (BMI) Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) Metabolic Age Bone Mass Segmental Measurement Physique Rating FitPlus Athlete Mode

ATHLETE MODE

Why is there a separate Athlete mode?

TANITA's equations for standard adult mode have been calibrated against clinical readings taken from a representative sample of the population, most of whom have sedentary or only moderately active lifestyles.

When developing its body composition equations, TANITA found that a different equation was needed to maintain accuracy in the elite athletic population. People who exercise at high levels over long periods of time exhibit differences in their muscle structure and hydration. Their muscle tissue composition may differ, there will be a difference in their water to muscle ratio and overall their bodies will be denser than the average person, as muscle tissue is denser than fat. If these people were to use the standard Adult mode on a Body Composition Monitor, their readings could be overestimated.

TANITA therefore developed a specific Athlete mode, calibrated against a representative sample of "athletes". As a general guideline, we recommend Athlete mode for anyone who carries out more than 12 hours of intensive aerobic exercise a week AND who has a resting heartbeat of under 60bpm. (Some people naturally have a low heart rate - it does not apply unless they exercise at that level.) They should also have been exercising at this level for at least 6 months. It could also apply to people who have a lifetime history of fitness - who used to do more than 12 hours a week but do less now.

Athlete mode is particularly suitable for people in endurance sports like running and cycling and those in cross training. (Professional athletes and body builders may still get an overestimation of their body fat percentage even in Athlete mode.)