In about 10 seconds, the BC-1 Body Composition Analyzer will accurately determine:
Lean Muscle Mass and PercentageBody Fat Weight and PercentageOverall Cellular Hydration LevelCalories Burned Daily and Weekly
The Body Composition Analyzer allows you to accurately monitor body composition with an easy-to-use, desktop device. The unit sends a non-invasive bioelectrical impulse through the body to determine body fat and lean body mass. Assessment of body composition is rapidly becoming a component of a thorough physical examination. Formerly available only in clinics and hospitals, this system can now be used in the comfort of your own home, and there is no need to undress. The included software allows users to connect to a website, where they can view performance graphs, news and other personalized information.
If you are truly serious about fitness and/or a weight loss program, this deserves your sincere consideration. It gives you a personalized assessment of:
* Lean muscle mass and percentage
* Body fat weight and percentage
* Calories burned
* Overall cellular hydration level
It works with your computer and your existing internet connection. You’ll be able to view personal progress, performance graphs allowing you to accurately assess your health status and much more pertinent information. This is an emerging science that has become more important among healthcare professionals to determine a person’s general state of health.
The bio-impedance method used here is based on the principle of the relative conductivity of lean muscular structure vs. fat-containing tissues. By repeated measurements (considering gender, weight, age, height, etc.), the system can make accurate determinations. This methodology has been confirmed by numerous validation studies performed by testing labs, universities, and government agencies.
How Does the BC-1 Work?
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.
Learn more about Body CompositionHow is the Body Composition data displayed?Learn more about HydrationLearn more about Calories
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 we have 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.
Technical SpecificationsMinimum System Requirements:
Windows 98/NT 4.0 or Windows 2000
PC compatible only (will not operate on Mac)
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
Specifications:
Weight (With battery): 16.0 oz.
Unit with Holster Dimensions: L 7.6" x W 3.25" x H 6.5"
Battery Type: 4 x 1.5 Volt AA alkaline (not included)
Operating Battery Life: 3 Months
PC Interface: DB-9 adapter cable
What's Included:
You will receive the body composition device, the calorie tracker device, USB cables, CD-ROM, and user’s guide and tutorial. This is an FDA approved device and is available for U.S. shipments only. Please allow an extra 3-5 days for delivery.
Read the list of Frequently Asked Questions
What others are saying:
"Underneath that mild mannered exterior lies a powerful tool for the weight obsessed."
Time Digital
"Hogging more than bandwidth? BC-1 combines a body fat analyzer, portable calorie tracker, and online training service."
Wired
"The BC-1 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
"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.
Bibliography:
1. 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.
2. Lukaski, H. C. Methods for the assessment of human body composition: traditional and new. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 46: 537-56, 1987.
3. 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.
4. Human Body Composition: Roche, A. F., Heymsfield, S.B., and Lohman, T. G. eds. Human Kinetics Press, 1996.
5. Thomasett, A. Bioelectrical properties of tissue impedance. Lyon Med, 207: 107-118, 1962.
6. 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.
