The intelligence offered by products like LEVL for measuring breath acetone and Bio Impedance Analyzers (BIA) for measuring body composition helps reassure patients that their hard work is paying off. These technologies also help clinicians make immediate recommendations that can improve weight loss results. LEVL is a test that can be conducted daily or weekly and measures acetone in the breath to calculate the body’s current fat burning state. What sets LEVL apart is that it predicts fat loss based on the results. However, if you are attempting to correlate the results of LEVL to BIA, it is critical you understand how hydration impacts bio impedance analysis results and how to properly compare two data points from different technologies.
Why can’t you compare daily BIA results to LEVL? Bio Impedance uses electricity to determine body composition. Because our body is made mostly of water, natural fluctuations in hydration can have significant impact on the results of a BIA test. Allowing time to pass between each analysis allows the impact of hydration and natural fluctuations in body water to be negated by other factors like lifestyle changes. Tanita recommends weekly BIA tests averaged over time. Other BIA manufacturers recommend testing no more than once every two weeks, but preferably once a month. The more time that passes between each BIA analysis, and the more optimal the testing conditions, the less of a role, water and hydration will play in the results.
Think of it like this. LEVL is like a pop quiz and BIA is more of an exam. The pop quiz (LEVL) lets you know your body is using fat for fuel right now. The exam (BIA) lets you know that the body is changing over time.
What’s the bottom line? Both devices are clinically accurate within their own specifications (±1 PPM for LEVL and 2% for BIA, under optimal testing conditions). The best way to correlate LEVL results to BIA analysis results is to compare the two no more than once a month.
Marla Kaminsky is an expert in the implementation of technology in the wellness industry. Her expertise extends into training and educating practitioners and business owners in how technology, when implemented thoughtfully, can help achieve personal and business goals. She can be reached at [email protected].
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