After a nutritional intervention or a change of habits, what the scale shows has always been a torment or a joy for many. This variation in body weight determines the success or failure of our conduct, but is it indicative of health? Are we focusing on what really reflects our metabolic state? Can the scale we have at home reliably indicate our progress? The answer is no, and now we will see why.

The weight you carry around at home all your life is not a realistic reflection of your health or the progress you have made after deciding to improve your diet and/or lifestyle. The main reason is that those kilos that appear on the screen do not distinguish between whether they come from fat or muscle mass, that is, they do not reflect body composition. This is what is really important and what we should base our progress on when talking about health.

For example, one tool used to classify the different types of overweight is the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated based solely on a person's weight and height. For this reason, it is often not a reliable method for obtaining a complete idea of physical condition, since it does not consider other relevant parameters such as the amount of muscle mass.

Body composition analysis determines the amount of fat (generally distinguishing visceral fat), muscle mass, bone tissue and water. In other words, the same weight can correspond to very different body compositions. Therefore, going beyond weight by analysing body composition is a more realistic and reliable reflection when it comes to measuring the different improvements that may have occurred in our state of health.

However, to perform a body composition analysis, it is necessary to have more precise and sophisticated bioimpedance scales. And although it is true that there are more and more options available on the market, it makes it more complicated to have one on hand. In this case, we can use other indicators, such as waist and/or hip circumference, for which we only need a measuring tape. We can also monitor our sleep quality, our mood and general sensations, or how our clothes fit us. All of these are health indicators that go beyond weight and are equally relevant. Oorenji You can record and track these factors to get a more complete picture of your progress and fitness, and help you maintain a healthy diet in a fun and easy way. Get started today!