HoMedics IB-SC520 User Manual
Page 4
Why Is It Important to Monitor Your Total Body Water
(TBW%) Percentage?
Monitoring the level of body water can be a useful tool for one’s health maintenance.
Water is an essential component of the body and is one of the body’s overall health
indicators. Water makes up approximately 50-70% of the body’s weight and is present
proportionally more in lean tissue as compared to fat tissue.
For example:
• 73% of lean muscle tissue is water
• 80% of blood is water
• 25% of fat is water
• 22% of bone tissue is water
Additionally, water is also a medium for biochemical reactions that regulate body functions.
The estimated TBW% may vary according to your hydration level. For better accuracy,
avoid fluctuations in hydration level prior to taking a measurement.
The accuracy of the unit in estimating TBW% will also decrease with individuals suffering
from diseases or illnesses that tend to accumulate water in the body. Please remember
that the unit represents only a good approximation of your total body water.
The normal TBW% of an individual varies according to body fat percentage and gender.
The table below may be used as a guide:
†† Source: Derived from Wang & Deurenberg: “Hydration of fat-free body
mass”. American Journal Clin Nutr 1999; 69 833-841.
Why Should I Monitor My Skeletal Muscle Mass?
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ASCM), lean muscle mass may
decrease by nearly 50 percent between the ages of 20 and 90. If you don’t do anything
to replace that loss, you’re losing muscle and increasing fat.
It is also important to know your muscle mass during weight reduction. At rest, the body
burns approximately 50 additional calories for each pound of muscle gained. Some
advantages of gaining muscle mass include:
• Reversing the decline in strength, bone mineral and muscle mass that accompanies age
• Maintenance of flexible joints
• Guide weight reduction when combined with a healthy diet
This body composition scanner tells you the total weight of skeletal muscle in your
body. The normal weight of skeletal muscle mass for men is approximately 40% of total
body weight. For women, normal muscle mass is approximately 30% of total body
weight (International Commission on Radiological Protection, 1975). To find your muscle
mass %, follow this formula:
Use the chart below to see if your muscle mass is low, normal or high.
* Muscle Mass (in pounds)
Total Body Weight
= Muscle Mass %
MUSCLE MASS % RANGES
† Source: HoMedics,
2006. Figures
based on the
following formula:
Weight of
individual’s
skeletal muscle
(in pounds)/total
body weight
(in pounds).
†
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66
83
99
116
132 149
165
320
64
80
96
112
128 144
160
310
62
78
93
109
124 140
155
300
60
75
90
105
120 135
150
290
58
73
87
102
116 131
145
280
56
70
84
98
112 126
140
270
54
68
81
95
108 122
135
260
52
65
78
91
104 117
130
250
50
63
75
88
100 113
125
240
48
60
72
84
96 108
120
230
46
58
69
81
92 104
115
220
44
55
66
77
88
99
110
210
42
53
63
74
84
95
105
200
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
190
38
48
57
67
76
86
95
180
36
45
54
63
72
81
90
170
34
43
51
60
68
77
85
160
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
150
30
38
45
53
60
68
75
140
28
35
42
49
56
63
70
130
26
33
39
46
52
59
65
120
24
30
36
42
48
54
60
110
22
28
33
39
44
50
55
100
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Peso (en libras)
20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
(%) de Masa Muscular
Masa Muscular (en libras)
Normal
Mujeres
Normal
Hombres
Rango de % BF
Rango normal de TBW%
70 a 63%
63 a 57%
57 a 55%
55 a 37%
70 a 58%
58 a 52%
52 a 49%
49 a 37 %
4 a 14%
15 a 21%
22 a 24%
25% y m‡s
4 a 20%
21 a 29%
30 a 32%
33% y m‡s
Hombres
Mujeres