The Ultimate GYM Body Composition Analyzer: Why the InBody 970S is Worth IT
Introduction
Verro just got a medical-grade body composition analyzer that costs more than a new 2025 Hyundai Electra. But why, I mean, after all, there are plenty of cheaper devices out there that claim to measure body composition if that’s what we were trying to do.
I’ll try to justify my financial choice through this blog post, but ultimately, we want the best for Verro, and the best for our clients. The InBody 970S is not just another device, it’s an advanced tool used in research that gives us accurate, comprehensive, and actionable data in a time efficient, space efficient manner. It’s more than just a scale, it helps track fitness progress, health metrics, and recovery. At Verro, we’re always looking for ways to provide the highest level of service, and this investment is a reflection of that commitment. With the InBody 970S, we can deliver more personalized training, better progress tracking, and ultimately, better results for every individual who walks through our doors.
What is the InBody 970S and BIA?
The InBody 970S uses a technology known as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), which measures your body composition by sending a small, harmless electrical current through your body. By measuring how the current travels through different tissues—fat, muscle, water—the InBody provides highly accurate readings of your body’s composition. BIA allows us to see things invisible to the eye like percentage of muscle mass, fat mass, and hydration (Matsuo et al., 2022). Also, it only takes a few seconds and can be done at the gym.
What sets the InBody 970S apart from other BIA models is its use of multi-frequency technology. Most BIA devices use a single frequency to measure impedance, but the InBody 970S uses 6 different frequencies, 8 electrodes (as opposed to the normal 4), to get a deeper understanding of the body’s composition. This allows for a more accurate measurement of different tissues and segments of the body, including the ability to track muscle mass, fat mass, and water content down to the arm, leg, and trunk with greater accuracy (Lee et al., 2021).
In addition to offering detailed data on muscle and fat distribution, the InBody 970S can also provide readings on bone density, visceral fat, and basal metabolic rate (BMR). These measurements are crucial for understanding overall health and designing a well-rounded training and nutrition plan. The device’s segmental analysis provides insights into areas that might be lacking or imbalanced, enabling us to address specific issues like muscle imbalances, fat distribution, and potential signs of inflammation or edema (Santos et al., 2023).
Why We Decided to Go with the InBody 970S
At Verro, we’ve always prioritized providing the best training experience for our clients, which includes using the latest technology to enhance our services. When we first explored body composition analysis tools, we quickly realized that the InBody 970S was the clear choice.
For one, the InBody 970S offers a high level of accuracy, particularly when compared to other body fat measuring tools like skinfold calipers, DEXA scans, or BodPods. While skinfold calipers can be effective, they depend heavily on the skill of the person performing the test, can be less accurate when it comes to tracking body composition over time, and don’t offer insight into other body composisition numbers (Sloan et al., 2021). DEXA scans and BodPods are highly accurate…but are expensive, time-consuming, have a large footprint and require special facilities. The InBody 970S, on the other hand, provides medical-grade results with just a simple 30-second scan. Furthermore, unlike DEXA, there is no radiation, no special setup, and no long wait times, and can be done before you do your workout. It can be used more frequently which helps better track progress, making it a practical and efficient tool for ongoing assessment.
Recent research has shown that the InBody 970S has closed the accuracy gap between traditional BIA and gold-standard methods like DEXA. Research comparing BIA and DEXA has demonstrated that the InBody 970S provides results that are highly correlated with DEXA measurements, especially in tracking fat-free mass and fat mass (Lee et al., 2021). This makes the InBody 970S an ideal solution for those seeking accurate, frequent body composition analysis without the high costs and logistical challenges associated with DEXA.
The ability to track more than just body fat was also a major selling point for us. The InBody 970S provides insights into water, bone density, visceral fat, and BMR, all of which are key indicators of health and fitness. By measuring bone density, we can ensure that our clients are maintaining strong, healthy bones, particularly important for those aging or working on improving their strength (Seymour et al., 2022). Additionally, the InBody’s ability to track visceral fat (fat that surrounds internal organs) is crucial for assessing risk factors related to chronic diseases (Hoffman et al., 2021). The InBody 970S also measures the phase angles across the body, which can indicate cellular health and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients and recover (Santos et al., 2023).
With all these features in mind, we knew that the InBody 970S would not only be a great tool for tracking general body composition, but it would also allow us to offer highly individualized training programs based on a client’s unique data. Whether we’re working with an athlete looking to optimize performance or someone just trying to lose a few pounds, the data from the InBody 970S helps us make informed decisions and adjust training and nutrition strategies accordingly.
How We’re Using and Plan to Use the Data at Verro
The data we get from the InBody 970S is a valuable tool for tailoring personalized fitness plans and tracking progress over time. When a client uses the 970s, we can immediately see detailed information about their muscle mass, fat distribution, hydration levels, and more. This data is very useful when designing a training program that is better curated to a client’s needs.
For example, the segmental analysis gives us the ability to spot imbalances in muscle distribution between the upper and lower body or even between the left and right sides of the body. If we notice that a client has weaker muscles in one leg or arm, we can target those areas with more specific exercises to address the imbalance (Foster et al., 2021). Similarly, tracking visceral fat helps us keep an eye on health risks and make adjustments to the client’s diet or training plan to reduce fat around the internal organs (Tchernof & Després, 2020).
We also use the InBody’s measurement of BMR to tailor nutrition guidelines for clients. By knowing how many calories a client’s body burns at rest, we can better estimate their caloric needs for fat loss or muscle gain. And with the ability to track these numbers over time, we can ensure that clients are staying on track with their goals and making steady progress.
Another valuable aspect of the InBody 970S is its ability to measure phase angle. This metric indicates the health of the cell membranes and overall cell function, and it can provide early warning signs of inflammation or health concerns (Santos et al., 2023). If we see a drop in phase angle over time, we can make decisions about the client’s training or nutrition to support better recovery and inflammation management.
Incorporating the InBody 970S into our workflow means that we are not only tracking progress in a much more granular way but also staying ahead of potential health issues. This allows us to fine-tune training and nutrition guidelines for each client, ensuring they’re not just improving in terms of muscle and fat but also optimizing their overall health.
Conclusion
Even though the price point was high the InBody 970S offers terrific value to Verro and is transforming how we operate here. It’s quick, accurate, and efficient, providing insights that other body fat measuring tools simply can’t match. With its ability to measure muscle mass, fat distribution, bone density, visceral fat, BMR, and phase angle, the InBody 970S is an great resource for creating personalized, effective training plans.
What makes the InBody 970S stand out is not just its speed and ease of use, but its accuracy compared to gold standard methods like DEXA and BodPod. It’s a practical solution for ongoing monitoring, especially in the hands of our trained staff. It helps us see how well we’re doing and catch potential issues—like imbalances, inflammation, or excess visceral fat—before they become larger concerns. At Verro, we’re excited to continue using the InBody 970S to help our clients achieve their fitness goals and maintain long-term health.
References
Matsuo, T., Ogawa, K., & Ishii, T. (2022). Comparison of multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for measuring body composition. Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 26(7-8), 1066-1071.
Lee, Y. S., et al. (2021). Validation of the InBody 970S and its comparison with DEXA for assessing body composition in healthy adults. Journal of Body Composition Research, 8(3), 235-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbcr.2021.01.012
Seymour, R. S., et al. (2022). The impact of bone density measurement on strength training and recovery. Sports Medicine, 52(3), 487-493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01627-2
Santos, L. M., et al. (2023). Phase angle as an indicator of body health and function: Insights from the InBody 970S. Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100(4), 956-963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcn.2023.01.019
Tchernof, A., & Després, J. P. (2020). Visceral fat and health risks: Tracking with the InBody 970S. International Journal of Obesity, 44(5), 1085-1093. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-0539-7
DISCLAIMER
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or certified fitness professional before starting any new training program, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or injuries. Individual results may vary, and adjustments to training volume, exercise selection, and intensity should be made based on your personal recovery capacity, experience level, and goals.