Body Composition Analysis
Body composition analysis looks beyond the bathroom scale to measure muscle, fat, and where your body carries it. At AgeWell we use the InBody 970, and it's part of every Foundational Assessment and used to track your progress over time.
Why the scale is not enough
Two people can weigh the same and have very different health. In midlife, many people lose muscle and gain fat, especially around the middle, even when their weight barely changes. The scale can't see that. Body composition analysis can.
What we use
AgeWell uses the InBody 970, InBody's top professional body composition analyzer. It's a different machine from a home scale or the units at many gyms: it measures each arm, each leg, and your trunk separately, at several frequencies, in under a minute. That lets us see where you're carrying muscle and fat, and how that changes over time.
What it measures
- Lean muscle mass, including by body segment
- Fat mass and body fat percentage
- Visceral fat, the fat stored around your organs
- Phase angle, a marker linked to cell health
- Body water
- Changes over time, scan to scan
Why muscle matters in midlife
Muscle is currency for aging well. It's linked to blood sugar, strength, balance, energy, and how well you age. During the menopause transition, fat often rises and lean mass often falls, even when the scale barely moves. And when people lose weight, including on GLP-1 medications, part of what's lost can be lean mass.
Tracking body composition lets us see whether you're losing fat while protecting muscle, and adjust your plan if you're not.
How it fits your care at AgeWell
Body composition is part of every Foundational Assessment, alongside comprehensive labs and an unhurried clinical review. During your program, repeat scans show how your body is responding, so we can adjust your plan with real data. Learn more about our approach to metabolic health.
Common questions
How is this different from a scale at home or the gym?
The InBody 970 measures each part of your body separately at several frequencies, so it can show where you're gaining or losing muscle and fat. Home scales and many gym units give a simpler estimate.
Is the scan private?
Yes. It's done in a private setting and takes less than a minute.
How often is it repeated?
During a program, your provider will recommend repeat scans at the points where they're most useful for adjusting your plan.
Why does it matter if I'm on a GLP-1 medication?
When weight comes off quickly, some of it can be muscle. Regular scans help us see that early and adjust nutrition, strength work, and your plan to protect it.