SECA Body Composition

What is SECA body composition analysis?

SECA body composition analysis estimates the different components that contribute to your body weight, including fat, muscle, and water.

These measurements provide context that a standard scale cannot. Two people with the same weight may have different body compositions, and changes in your weight may reflect more than changes in body fat.

Your team helps you understand the findings and how they relate to your goals.

How does the technology work?

SECA uses bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA. A weak electrical current passes through the body, and the device measures how body tissues resist that current.

The system uses these measurements and validated calculations to estimate body composition. The current is typically imperceptible, and the assessment does not use X-rays.

What can the assessment measure?

Depending on the device and report, your results may include:

• Body fat percentage: The estimated proportion of your weight made up of fat.
• Fat mass: The estimated total amount of body fat.
• Skeletal muscle mass: An estimate of the muscles involved in movement.
• Fat-free mass: Everything other than fat, including muscle, water, organs, and bone.
• Body water: Estimates that help provide context for fluid balance and other measurements.

Fat-free mass and muscle mass are different measures. Your provider will explain which results are most relevant to you.

Who may benefit from a body composition assessment?

An assessment may be useful for:

• Adults working toward weight management goals.
• People beginning or adjusting a strength training routine.
• Active individuals interested in tracking muscle and fat changes.
• Older adults monitoring changes in muscle mass.
• Professionals seeking a baseline for their wellness plan.
• People whose progress is not clearly reflected by scale weight.

Your team will determine whether the assessment is suitable for your circumstances.

How can SECA support weight management?

Body composition measurements help distinguish estimated changes in fat mass from changes in fat-free mass.

This can add useful context during weight loss, particularly when maintaining muscle is an important goal. Your team reviews trends alongside your strength, activity, and overall response to your plan.

The results support informed adjustments rather than judging progress by pounds lost alone.

How can the results inform strength and performance goals?

Muscle mass estimates can provide a baseline when you begin or change a training routine.

Repeat assessments may help show whether your body composition is changing over time. Your team considers these findings alongside strength, endurance, and movement assessments, because muscle size alone does not determine physical performance.

For those seeking additional support, personal or semi-private training can complement their goals.

Why does hydration affect the results?

BIA relies on how electrical current travels through body tissues, so changes in body water can influence the estimates.

Recent exercise, meals, alcohol, illness, and medications affecting fluid balance may alter results. A short-term change in estimated muscle or fat mass may therefore reflect fluid changes rather than a true change in tissue.

Consistent preparation makes repeat measurements more useful.

What happens during my appointment?

Your team reviews relevant health information and explains how to position yourself for the assessment.

For a standing assessment, you generally remove your shoes and socks, stand on the foot electrodes, and hold the hand electrodes as instructed. The measurement itself is brief.

Your team then reviews the report and discusses how the findings relate to your goals and any recommended next steps.

Can SECA diagnose a health condition?

Body composition analysis provides information that can support an assessment, but it does not diagnose a condition by itself.

For example, a low muscle mass estimate may warrant further evaluation alongside strength and function. SECA BIA also does not measure bone density or replace a bone-density scan.

Your provider interprets the results within your broader health picture.

How do repeat assessments help track progress?

Repeat measurements help establish trends in body composition over time.

Using the same device and similar preparation, timing, and measurement conditions improves comparability. Your team reviews the pattern across assessments alongside your daily function and progress toward your goals.

The timing of reassessment depends on the purpose of your plan and whether enough time has passed for meaningful change.