Eating disorders are increasing at an alarming rate, and yet, options for treatment are severely lacking as the field remains understudied. In the book Measuring Health from the Inside, our founder Annika Kahm, MS and Carolyn Hodges Chaffee, MS, RDN, CEDRD work to pull back the curtain and show how two simple measurement techniques — the Metabolic Test and Body Composition Analysis — can improve treatment and recovery. They explain how this data can be used to treat patients for their eating disorders as well as the malnutrition that nearly always accompanies the condition. Thousands of patients, many of whom are included in the book as case studies and success stories, can attest to the power of this approach.

At The Kahm Clinic, we believe that good health is more than a number on the scale. In fact, we place very little weight on this metric (pun intended). For this blog post, let’s focus on internal health and take a deeper look at both Metabolic Testing and Body Composition Analysis. 

Metabolic Testing

One of the most important parts of treatment at The Kahm Clinic is Metabolic Testing. For this test, you sit under a bubble for 20 minutes as it measures your ratio of carbon dioxide out versus oxygen in, which tells us how many calories your body burns at rest. This number is called your resting metabolic rate (RMR) or basil metabolic rate (BMR) and refers to the energy your body needs to do absolutely nothing throughout each day. 

Your RMR, then, becomes our baseline. We add to it based on your general movement (like getting up to refill your water glass or walking to the car) as well as your exercise. Combined, this number is your total daily energy expenditure.

Our machine also tells us what your body is breaking down for fuel in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Primarily, we want to ensure that your protein substrate (muscle, collagen, and connective tissues) is within a normal range, indicating that your body is properly fueled and not using your lean mass for energy. 

Body Composition Analysis

We use Body Composition Analysis to measure the amount and proportion of fat and lean mass in an individual’s body as well as the body’s cellular integrity. To break it down further, this test measures lean mass, body fat, lean dry mass (muscle), total body water, intracellular water, extracellular water, and phase angle. During this quick and non-invasive procedure, electrodes are attached to your wrist and foot, sending a small electrical current through the body. It then uses the resistance and reactance to the current to give us the desired measurements. 

In Conclusion

Thanks to these two tests, nutritionists at The Kahm Clinic can determine who isn’t eating correctly and to what extent, allowing us to create customized and effective treatment plans for patients struggling with eating disorders and malnutrition. Plus, we can carefully track a patient’s progress by repeating these tests as needed. These test results help people better understand their own bodies and determine how best to fuel their bodies to prevent accelerated aging, to optimize fat-burning, to build muscle, and more. It’s easy to see why nearly everyone can benefit from the data provided by both Metabolic Testing and Body Composition Analysis. 

To purchase Measuring Health from the Inside and learn more about The Kahm Clinic’s unique approach to eating disorder treatment, click here.