Metabolic Testing and Body Composition Analysis
Thanks to metabolic testing and body composition analysis, our nutritionists can see who is malnourished and to what extent. Therefore, we can offer highly effective and customized treatment plans as well as track patient progress. Metabolic testing and body composition analysis results take much of the guesswork out of nutritional guidance since it is based on empirical data. They help people understand their own bodies while motivating them to reach healthy goals. They also help to determine how best to fuel their bodies to prevent accelerated aging and rebuild lean tissue that has been lost due to malnutrition.
WHAT IS METABOLIC TESTING?
Metabolic testing measures how many calories someone is burning at rest and enables us to see if they are burning more or less than they should. When a person is underfed, it also measures how much lean mass (muscles, enzymes, organ tissue, etc.) is being used to fuel the body. In slightly more technical terms, metabolic testing measures an individual's metabolic rate by determining the Actual Resting Energy Expenditure (AREE), namely, the amount of calories burned while in resting state. It does this by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, a process called indirect calorimetry. During the testing procedure, an individual reclines and breathes under a lightweight canopy hood for 20-30 minutes. Immediately after the procedure, the nutritionists analyzes the AREE alongside the PREE (predicted resting energy expenditure) to assess if the body is burning the number of calories it should (a normal metabolism), fewer calories than it should ( hypometabolic), or more calories than it should (hypermetabolic).
Metabolic Testing measures how many calories someone is burning at rest and enables us to see if they are burning more or less than they should. When a person is underfed, it also measures how much lean mass (muscles, enzymes, organ tissue, etc.) is being used to fuel the body. In slightly more technical terms, metabolic testing measures an individual's metabolic rate by determining the Actual Resting Energy Expenditure (AREE), namely, the amount of calories burned while in resting state. It does this by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, a process called indirect calorimetry. During the testing procedure, an individual reclines and breathes under a lightweight canopy hood for 20-30 minutes. Immediately after the procedure, the nutritionists analyzes the AREE alongside the PREE (predicted resting energy expenditure) to assess if the body is burning the number of calories it should (a normal metabolism), fewer calories than it should ( hypometabolic), or more calories than it should (hypermetabolic).
The metabolic test is done after you have fasted for a minimum of 4-5 hours but ideally overnight. Unlike almost all other metabolic machines, the one we use at The Kahm Clinic also measures how your body uses protein (from your muscles and organs). If you are burning more protein than you should, it means that you are catabolic and using your body’s protein stores (muscles and organs) to fuel yourself because you are not eating correctly – this is something that should be avoided at all costs.
This machine is complicated, and it takes experience and substantial training to learn how to interpret the data in a useful manner. Furthermore, measuring your metabolism is not an optional add-on to our nutritional counseling, as it is with most nutritionists. For us, it is utterly central and crucial to what we do – we have seen so much progress with our clients over the years that we could never go back to working without them.
WHAT IS BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS?
Body Composition Analysis (BCA) measures the amount and proportion of fat and lean mass in a person's body. It also measures the body's cellular integrity. In slightly more technical terms, Body Composition Analysis measures lean mass, body fat, lean dry mass (muscle), total body water, intracellular water, extracellular water, and phase angle. Exact numbers are never shared with our eating disorder patients. Body Composition Analysis is a quick and non-invasive procedure. Electrodes are attached to a wrist and a foot and a small electrical current is sent through the body. By measuring the resistance and reactance to the current as it passes through the body, it can measure the proportion and amount of lean tissue and fat. The rate at which this current passes through the cells of the body is how BCA determines the integrity of a person's cells. The measurement of the body's total resistance and reactance (which is independent of a person's height, weight, and body fat) is called the phase angle. A low phase angle indicates a breakdown of cell membrane. As the body is nutritionally restored, the cell membrane becomes more intact and the phase angle improves. This is quick, painless, harmless and extremely informative data!
If you are curious, please take a look at the sample test results on the Anorexia page and Binge Eating Disorder page. If you are concerned about fasting and the numbers being triggering, please see Q. 12-13 on our FAQ page. Practically everyone benefits from the information provided by these tests.