Body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone and muscle in our bodies. Because muscular tissue takes up less space in our body than fat tissue, our body composition, as well as our weight, determines leanness.

Standard body weight scales provide a measure of total weight, but don't determine the lean-to-fat ratio of that weight. Standing on most scales can tell you only if you weigh more than the average person, but not if that weight is fat or muscle.

Two people at the same height and same body weight may look completely different from each other because they have a different body composition.

It is generaly accepted that a healthy adult male's body should have between 8 and 17 percent fat and a female should have 14-21%. Levels significantly above these amounts may indicate excess body fat.

The fitness Clinic uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), which uses the resistance of electrical flow through the body to estimate body fat.

These measurements are extremely reproducible, making them excellent for monitoring nutritional or exercise intervention, sports training &/or other body composition altering programs.