How do body fat calculators like InBody actually work, and why are they so important during a diet?
These devices use 'Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA),' which measures the body's resistance to a mild electrical current. Since muscles (rich in water) conduct electricity well while fat does not, the device can estimate your body composition. This is crucial because successful weight loss focuses on preserving lean muscle while reducing fat to prevent the 'yo-yo effect' and ensure metabolic health.
Many people make the mistake of extreme fasting, which reduces overall weight but leads to muscle loss, leaving them fatigued and dizzy. From a conventional medical perspective, body fat percentage is a better indicator of metabolic efficiency than total weight; excessive fat increases insulin resistance, making it easier to gain more weight.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this condition is viewed through the concept of 'Dameum' (phlegm-fluid retention). Dameum occurs when metabolic waste is not properly excreted and becomes stagnant, obstructing the flow of Qi and Blood, which slows down metabolism and creates an environment where body fat accumulates easily.
Furthermore, if a patient is in a state of 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency), their digestive and absorptive functions are impaired. In this state, nutrients are not efficiently converted into energy but are instead stored as fat because the Spleen fails to transport nutrients effectively. Therefore, I do not rely on numbers alone; I analyze body fat changes alongside symptoms like edema and fatigue to identify where the metabolic blockage lies and provide tailored prescriptions to boost your overall metabolism.
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