| The human body is constantly changing its weight and volume of fat, water and muscle as a result of life style, age and environment. Measuring these body composition changes has had more than 50 years of interest in studying all types of people. Albert Behnke Jr. MD (1924 - 1992) is known as the modern day pioneer of studing human body composition and worked in developing a hydrodensitometry method of measuring body density during WWII (1942). More recent methods include DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry), CT scanning (Computed Tomography - X-Ray) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) that are able to identify the composition of selected sites in the human body. The fine resolution of these methods have led to remarkable diagnostic instruments that can identify a variety of life threatening diseases.
Measuring the electrical properties of the whole body is known as Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). It is of primary importance because of its precision, simplicity, and portability. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was pioneered by RJL Systems in the early 1980's and is used by major universities, hospitals, researchers and health care professionals throughout the world. More than 15,000 RJL BIA instruments have been utilized as of today.
Due to its accuracy, ease of use and affordability, BIA body composition analysis is important to health care professionals because what is measured can be managed.
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