|
 The BC1 Body Composition Analyzer allows users to accurately monitor their body composition and measure caloric burn through the use of a simple desktop device. When held by the user, the BC1 sends a noninvasive bioelectrical impulse through the body to determine body fat, body hydration and lean body mass. The BC1 Body Composition Analyzer Kit comes with the CT1 Personal Calorie Tracker as an integrated desktop device.
Take Control of Your Body TODAY!
In just 10 seconds, the BC-1 Body Composition Analyzer will accurately determine:
- Lean Muscle Mass & Percentage
- Body Fat Weight & Percentage
- Overall Cellular Hydration Level
- Calories Burned Daily & Weekly
Learn More About BC1:
Additional Research Materials:
Read Full Dr. Chris D. Meletis Paper (PDF)
The Body Composition Analyzer System Info (PDF)
More Body Composition Analyzer Info (PDF)
One of the body’s most essential nutrients is water. You can’t live without water for more than a week, while you can go without food for approximately six weeks. So, water is vital to your health and life. It’s vital, just like oxygen when we breathe.
The average adult is 55-75 percent water. This varies from person to person depending on their age, height, weight, and gender. Lean muscle tissue holds more water than body fat. Males with more muscle have more water than females. Younger individuals have more water than adults. A newborn baby’s weight is usually 75 percent water.
Water does so much more than satisfy your thirst. When you feel thirst, your body is already dehydrated. It’s a warning sign that your body needs more water to perform its duties. Nearly every function of your body uses water. It regulates your body temperature. Water is used as transportation for many nutrients and oxygen to your body cells and to carry away waste products. Water is the main part in bodily fluids like saliva, blood, amniotic fluid and urine. It prevents constipation by softening stools, cushions joints, and protects body organs and tissue.
In order for your body to perform and function normally, you need an ongoing supply of water. In other words, drink lots of water. How much water does your body need? The average adult loses about 10 cups of water a day through urination, bowel movements, breathing and perspiration. Your body doesn’t store an extra supply of water like other nutrients, so you need to replace the water that you lose throughout the day. Based on a 2000 calorie diet your body needs about 8 cups of water a day. Most people get 8 –12 cups a day through drinking water, other beverages and foods. To see if you are drinking enough water, check your urine. If it is dark in color, you are not drinking enough water. Thirst is another sign of whether or not you are drinking enough water.
Proper water consumption is key to weight loss. It has no calories, so you can drink as much as you want, while supplying your body with one of its main nutrients. If you are retaining fluids, this is a sign that you are not drinking enough water. The more water you drink the less water retention you have because the body is being properly fueled. So drink lots of water because it is truly a needed nutrient for life.
Simply put, a calorie is a measure of heat energy; specifically the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one liter of water one degree Centigrade. Calories taken in as food are used for energy (as in resting metabolism or exercise) or if unused, are stored (as fat). The body can then use stored calories for energy when calorie consumption is not sufficient.
Calories add up, and very quickly! We know that every calorie we eat that isn’t used for energy is stored as fat. For every 3,500 calories that you eat beyond what you use for energy, you will gain one pound of fat. On the other hand, creating a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories a week allows you to lose a pound of fat in a week. To put this in perspective: cutting out only 1,750 calories per week (or 250 calories per day) will amount to a weight loss of 26 pounds in a year!
If you take in too few calories, that is, less than what your body needs to support its resting systems and functions, you can put your body in an unhealthy state. Your body needs food energy for normal everyday functioning. A sensible approach to losing weight is to reduce your calorie intake 500 to 1,000 calories below your daily expenditure. By including exercise as a part of your daily routine, you will still be taking in the appropriate amount of calories for necessary body functions, yet create a calorie deficit which will promote the loss of body fat.
What Is Body Composition?
What is body composition? What does it mean? More importantly, what does it mean to you? Basically, body composition is exactly what it sounds like – the stuff of which you are composed. Do you know what you’re made of? Let’s take a look.
Most body composition analyses divide body composition into two components: body fat and lean body mass. We’ll start with body fat. A certain amount of body fat, about 3 percent of total body weight, aptly dubbed essential fat, is necessary to sustain normal body functions. Women have an additional 9-12 percent essential fat that is considered sex-specific, and is associated with normal sex hormone functioning. Dropping below 3 percent body fat for men or 9-12 percent for women is considered unhealthy and can be dangerous or even life threatening.
What is a healthy amount of body fat? This depends on who you are and what you do. The healthy, fit range is from 18-22 percent for women and from 12-17% for men. Athletes on strict training and diet regimens may have as little as 14-18 percent body fat for women and 6-12 percent for men. Having over 30 percent body fat for women and 20% body fat for men increases the risk of disease and is considered obese. If your body fat percentage is higher than the healthy, fit levels yet is lower than the obese levels, you may benefit from a healthy diet and exercise, but are not at health risk related to body composition.
Now that we’ve covered the basics on body fat, let’s move on to what’s left, which is collectively termed “lean body mass.” Lean body mass includes everything in your body except fat – muscle, bones, organs, fluids, etc. By exercising regularly and eating a healthy, balanced diet, it is possible to achieve and maintain a desirable ratio of fat to lean.
Resistance training can increase muscle mass, which increases your lean body mass. And, since your muscles are what give your body shape and form over your skeleton, building strong, healthy muscles can make you look good, too!
Another benefit of increasing lean body mass is that it can help your body become a better calorie-burning machine! It’s true – by increasing muscle mass, you will increase your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and burn more calories all day long! How is this possible? Because muscle tissue contains little organelles called mitochondria, which, put simply, are little energy producing machines. The more muscle tissue you have, the more mitochondria you have. And yes – you’ve got it – the more mitochondria you have, the more calories you burn!
Fat cells, on the other hand, do not have any such amazing abilities. In fact, body fat above the level of essential fat is considered storage fat and is actually a source of fuel that can feed the mitochondria and help keep your body running. A certain amount of storage fat is also important for cushioning and protecting the bones, muscles and organs, and for temperature regulation. However, high levels of body fat can adversely affect temperature regulation, as well as overtax the body’s organs and systems over time.
A last point to note is that your body weight is about 60-70 percent water, with muscle tissue being 70-75 percent water and fat 10-15 percent water. Women will be slightly less hydrated than men, due to the higher level of essential fat.
Water is essential to life – it is present in all of your body fluids and tissues. In blood, water transports nutrients and oxygen to your cells, and picks up waste products for elimination. In sweat, water helps cool your body, and in saliva and digestive fluids it helps break down the food you eat. Water is even a key ingredient for healthy, radiant skin!
While height and weight are valuable numbers to know, your body composition will tell you much more about your overall health, and it gives you some insight into what is going on inside you!
The BC1 Body Composition Analyzer allows users to accurately monitor their body composition and measure caloric burn through the use of a simple desktop device. When held by the user, the BC1 sends a non-invasive, bioelectrical impulse through the body to determine body fat, lean muscle mass and body hydration. Click here for more information.
WHY ASSESS BODY COMPOSITION?
Body composition is a recently validated (1) but still emerging science that has become more important in the health and medical communities because it is an accurate way to determine a persons general state of health. For that reason, assessment of body composition is rapidly becoming a component of routine physical examinations.
Evidence is accumulating that clearly identifies certain types of body composition as major contributors to the development of disease. Moreover, reliable and consistent measurements of body composition can assist in monitoring the effects of dietary and physical therapies or programs. Weight and appearance alone are deceptive indicators of the body's composition. Measuring body composition, on the other hand, allows individuals to accurately assess their health status.
BC1 BODY ANALYZER: AN ACCURATE AND PRACTICAL METHOD:
Most of the methods in common medical use for assessing human body composition are impractical for routine consumer use. They include height/weight charts, body mass indexes, girth and circumferences measurements, skin fold measurements using calipers, ultrasound and underwater weighing (2). Of the available methods, only underwater weighing and skin folds are considered accurate enough to be clinically acceptable (2-3). Underwater weighing is tedious, expensive, and is obviously not a consumer friendly technique. The skin fold method is highly subjective, since it depends on the skill of the tester, and assumes there is a relationship between sub-dermal fat and body cavity fat (4).
Again, this technique does not lend itself to mass consumer use. It is therefore well accepted that there is a need for an accurate and practical solution that can be used by consumers.
To help fill this need Stayhealthy has introduced the BC1 Body Composition Analyzer, which uses bio-impedance technology usually found in expensive clinical devices, but is an inexpensive, easy-to-use, Web-enabled product.
WHAT IS THE BIO-IMPEDANCE TECHNOLOGY IN THE BC1 BODY ANALYZER?
Living tissue can be described in terms of three electrical characteristics: voltage, current, and impedance.
Voltage has been used in useful clinical arts including Electrocardiography (ECG). Current is difficult to use, as generally speaking the current used in any device is very small and is only used as a measure of power.
It is easier to measure an endpoint that changes as a result of its interaction with tissue. Impedance is one such endpoint and was first used on biological systems in 1919 and has been in common use in clinical systems since that time.
Bio-impedance devices work by measuring the change in electrical resistance in body tissues by using a detectable electrical signal that is passed through the body.
Similar indirect measurements are now being made of blood flow, cardiac output, respiratory volume and arterial insufficiency and venous thrombosis. In 1962, it was reported that impedance correlated highly with total body water (5). In 1985, based on ten years of research, it was reported that impedance measurements could accurately predict fat free mass and total body fat (6).
The bio-impedance method is based on the principle that the lean body muscular structure that contains virtually all the water and conducting electrolytes in the body provides a good electrical pathway. In contrast, fat or fat-containing tissues make a poor electrical pathway. By inducing a low energy, high frequency signal a measurement of the baseline resistance to flow of electrical current can be made. The resistance measurement relates directly to the volume of the conductor.
By repeated measurements, and knowing other parameters such as gender, weight, age, and height proprietary equations have been developed that accurately determine total body water, fat free body mass and total body fat.
SUMMARY
The BC1 BODY ANALYZER is designed to take these measurements and is Web- enabled so that the values can be downloaded to Stayhealthy.com servers, where individual measurements are displayed in various forms and individualized advice is provided on fitness and health-related subjects customized to the user.
Bibliography:
Kotler,D.P., Burastero,S., Wang,J., and Pierson, R.N. Prediction of body cell mass, fat-free mass, and total body water with bioelectrical impedance: effects of race, sex, and disease. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 68 (2): 403-4, 1998.
Lukaski, H. C. Methods for the assessment of human body composition: traditional and new. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 46: 537-56, 1987.
Cohn, S. H. New concepts of body composition. In Ellis K.J., Yasumura S., Morgan, W.D., eds. In vivo body composition studies. Oxford: Bocardo Press Limited, 1-11, 1987.
Human Body Composition: Roche, A. F., Heymsfield, S.B., and Lohman, T. G. eds. Human Kinetics Press, 1996.
Thomasett, A. Bioelectrical properties of tissue impedance. Lyon Med, 207: 107-118, 1962.
Lukaski, H. C., Johnson, P.E., Bolonchuk, W.W.., and Lykken, G.I. Assessment of fat free mass using bioelectrical impedance measurements of the human body. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 41: 810-817, 1985.
Technical Facts About The BC1
Minimum System Requirements:
- Windows 98/NT 4.0 or Windows 2000
- MS Explorer 4.0
- Pentium 133 Processor
- 32MB RAM
- 10MB Free Hard Disk Space
- 28.8 Modem
- Open RS232 Com Port (Serial Port)
- CD-ROM Drive
- Active E-mail Account
- Internet Access
Compatiblity:
- PC compatible only
- American Online (AOL) compatible
Weight (With battery):16.0 oz.
Unit with Holster Dimensions:L =7.6" x W =3.25" x H =6.5"
Operating Temperature:32° - 113° F (0° - 45° C)
Battery Type:4 x 1.5 Volt AA alkaline (not included)
Operating Battery Life:3 Months
PC Interface:DB-9 adapter cable
BC1 Kit Includes:
How Is Body Composition Data Displayed?
Your BC1 Body Composition Analyzer will automatically analyze and format the data you send through your personal computer, in simple, colorful charts, such as the one above.
You can chart various types of data, including; caloric expenditure, body fat, lean body mass and hydration levels. You are also able to graph your personal data based on the timeframe of your choice, such as daily, monthly, yearly, and even by comparing two dates of your choice. You are even able to chart your progress alongside the goals you have set for yourself.
"Underneath that mild mannered exterior lies a powerful tool for the weight obsessed."
Time Digital
"Hogging more than bandwidth? Stayhealthy combines a body fat analyzer, portable calorie tracker, and online training service."
Wired
"Stayhealthy.com's body composition analyzer measures body fat, muscle mass and hydration levels. The monitor is a real hit with a cyber-hair salon in California."
ABCNEWS.com
"I'll be happy to go to the web site and run a personalized analysis for my clients, print a report and give it to them next time I see them. It'll build my credibility and clients love it when I do all the work for them."
Market Research Participant
"Anything that will keep them motivated will help my business."
Market Research Participant
"Preventive health care begins with you. Track your success. The Body Composition and Calorie Tracker is the first step to a healthier life."
Greg Thompson, M.D.
I was never an overweight child and had always been a pretty ‘on the go’ girl. I guess it was when I started having children that I became settled into a sedentary lifestyle. With each child came more weight gain… I’m sure a lot of you can relate. It was really quite amazing how fast the pounds accumulated over the years, and before I knew it, I was overweight. Weighing in at 182 pounds in 1999, (the highest I had ever been), I was clinically termed: obese. Yikes! How did that happen?
 I tried various techniques and all the ‘fad’ diets to try and get the weight off, over the years. These programs and techniques would maybe help me lose 5 pounds or so, but not really much more than that. There was an herbal drop that did help me to lose about 20 pounds initially, but over time, I gained 5 to 7 of those pounds back. After awhile, that method didn’t seem to work for me anymore at all, and I was still considered overweight.
In January of 2002, I decided to try something different. I enrolled in a local weight loss program. On January 7th, my first meeting, I weighed in at 167.4 pounds. My goal was to get to 140 pounds. Getting to 140 pounds seemed completely unattainable at the time. I really never thought the weight loss program would work, but it did. I have been eating within my daily caloric range for the past 7 months and I have increased my walking routine so that I walk 5 miles, 5-6 days a week. The key for me to stay motivated on this plan, however, has been Stayhealthy’s BC1 Body Composition Analyzer.
Lucky for me, one of the Stayhealthy offices is located in the same town as my weight loss program. Every Wednesday night (since February) before my meetings, I would go to the Stayhealthy, Inc. office and use their BC1 device to check my weight, body fat %, lean body mass % and hydration levels. I actually looked forward to stopping by the office to check my progress and share my results with their staff. At my weight loss program meetings, I do see the numbers drop on the scale, but Stayhealthy’s BC1 is different; it gives me a whole new perspective on my body. I not only see my weight loss, but I also see my body fat decreasing each week, my lean body mass increasing and my hydration levels increasing because I am becoming leaner. I love it! The performance graphs are such a great visual for me to actually see how I am doing and know what is going on with my body. And the device is so easy to use! I’ve been telling all my friends about the BC1 and that they should try it for themselves. Now that I have been introduced to Stayhealthy's BC1, I want to buy one for my home so that I can check my progress any time I want!
I am proud to say that today, July 17, 2002, I am 2.4 pounds UNDER my original weight goal. I weighed in today at 137.6 pounds. Perhaps even more staggering is that my body fat percentage has dropped from 33.91% in February 2002 to 22.87% today! My lean mass percentage went from 66.09% in February and is now 77.13%! And not only have I reached my weight goal, but I have also decreased my cholesterol over the past couple of years from 282 to 189! My doctor told me to keep doing whatever it was that I am doing! I feel great! My weight loss program, combined with Stayhealthy’s motivational BC1 body composition device, really helped me to stay on track and stay committed to my weight loss goal.
Athletics have always been a big part of who I am. As a kid, I was very involved with football, baseball and wrestling. In fact, after high school I played Center Field for a semi-professional baseball league and had twenty football scholarship offers to colleges all over the nation. I ended up going to Northwestern in Illinois where I continued with both football and wrestling. At that time, I couldn't imagine not being involved with any type of physical activity.
After college I began my career in business, which for me meant traveling all over the world. I slowly drifted into a very sedentary lifestyle and I didn’t understand at the time what effect this lifestyle change was having on my body. Looking back, I can see how the dramatic change in my lifestyle affected my weight.
 In January 2001, I weighed more than I ever had. I had reached 250 pounds and had 33% body fat. I was the new President of a fitness technology company that developed and marketed web enabled fitness monitoring devices and services, including the BC1 Body Composition Analyzer and CT1 Personal Calorie Tracker. I decided that it was about time that I practiced what I preached. I began wearing my CT1 Personal Calorie Tracker in January 2001 and began monitoring my body composition with the BC1 on a regular basis and I’ve been using both products faithfully ever since. Using these web-enabled devices allowed me to view my performance graphs and identify trends where my results were stored on my own personalized Stayhealthy web site. I now weigh 198 pounds and have 16.9% body fat. Even though I have worked hard and eaten right, I owe much of my success to the CT1, the BC1 and the integrated services from the Stayhealthy membership web site.
Without these products and services, I would have easily quit my weight loss program 20 days into it. I lost weight right off the bat, but when you’re carrying around in excess of 50 extra pounds, losing that first few is easy. The hard part came when I actually had to exert myself to burn calories above and beyond what I had become accustomed to. Perhaps what opened my eyes the most were the trending reports that I received from my BC1 readings. They were staggering. At first, yes, I was losing weight, but I was doing it all wrong! According to my BC1 results, I was losing muscle mass, not body fat. Something had to change. I knew I had to increase my muscle mass to a level where my body could start burning calories more effectively. I had to change my entire metabolic rate. I began Kung Fu and aerobic classes three days a week and lifted weights on the off days. In addition, I walked or jogged approximately two and a half miles every single day. I also knew that I would have to make a change in what I was eating and start eating healthy! I would have never been able to identify those negative trends and there is a good chance that I would have continued losing weight the wrong way, if I were on any other weight loss management program other than the Stayhealthy Weight Management Solution. Stayhealthy’s program helped to ensure proper continuance for safe and correct changes to my regimen for the best overall results.
Slowly, but surely, I watched the pounds drop off and my BC1 results began to look like the target model for effective weight loss. And even after a small weight gain, I could see my muscle mass steadily increasing, my body fat dropping, and my hydration level remaining consistent. This is when I understood that gaining weight can be good thing because I was gaining muscle mass and losing body fat as some of the pounds came back. Now, I don’t have to work quite so hard to keep the weight off. The increased muscle mass is helping me stay at a level where I feel fit and comfortable. I am still working toward my goal of 15% body fat and I don’t have too much further to go. It’s been a lot of hard work and at age 59, I really didn’t think that I could get my body back to the athletic state it once was. But I worked hard, and I did it. I have dropped 52 pounds, dropped from 33% body fat to 16.9% body fat, increased my flexibility, dropped 10 inches from my waist, increased inches in muscle around my biceps and thighs, and I feel great. The BC1 and CT1 were great motivational monitoring tools to keep me on track. The performance graphs helped me identify trends, and I must say that I am now a firm believer that the ability to identify trends is an essential part of any weight management program. The Stayhealthy Program motivated me to keep on going and not give up and it helped ensure that I lost weight the right way.
Duff Brace is president of Stayhealthy, Inc., the maker of the CT1 and BC1 in Monrovia, California. Duff is married and has two children, one in high school and one in college. In his spare time, he enjoys all measure of sports and classical music.
We will be monitoring Duff's progress and keeping you posted on this page.
| 
