Beurer BF 54 - Manual (Page 14)

14
Bone mass
Like the rest of our body, our bones are subject to the natural development, degeneration and ageing
processes. Bone mass increases rapidly in childhood and reaches its maximum between 30 and 40 ye-
ars of age. Bone mass reduces slightly with increasing age. You can reduce this degeneration somewhat
with healthy nutrition (particularly calcium and vitamin D) and regular exercise. With appropriate muscle
building, you can also strengthen your bone structure.
Note that this scale will not show you the calcium content of your bones, but will measure the weight of all
bone constituents (organic substances, inorganic substances and water).
Attention: Please do not confuse bone mass with bone density. Bone density can be determined only by
means of a medical examination (e.g. computer tomography, ultrasound). It is therefore not possible to
draw conclusions concerning changes to the bones and bone hardness (e.g. osteoporosis) using this scale.
Little influence can be exerted on bone mass, but it will vary slightly within the influencing factors (weight,
height, age, gender).
BMR
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy required by the body at complete rest to maintain
its basic functions (e.g. while lying in bed for 24 hours). This value largely depends on weight, height and
age. It is displayed on the diagnostic scale in kcal/day units using the scientifically recognized Harris-Be-
nedict formula.
Your body requires this amount of energy in any case and it must be reintroduced into your body in the
form of nutrition. If you take on less energy over the longer term, this can be harmful to your health.
AMR
The active metabolic rate (AMR) is the amount of energy required daily by the body in its active state.
The energy consumption of a human being rises with increasing physical activity and is measured on the
diagnostic scale in relation to the degree of activity entered (1– 5).
To maintain your existing weight, the amount of energy used must be reintroduced into the body in the
form of food and drink. If less energy is introduced than is used over a longer period of time, your body
will obtain the difference largely from the amount of fat stored and your weight will reduce. If, on the other
hand, over a longer period of time more energy is introduced than the total active metabolic rate (AMR)
calculated, your body will be unable to burn off the excess energy, and the excess will be stored in the
body as fat and your weight will increase.
Results in relation to time
Note that it is only the long-term trend which counts. Short period fluctuations in weight over a few days
are mostly the result of a loss of fluid.
The interpretation of the results will depend on changes in your: overall weight and body fat, body water
and muscle percentages, as well as on the period during which these changes take place. Rapid changes
within days must be distinguished from medium term changes (over weeks) and long term changes
(months).
A basic rule is that short term changes in weight almost exclusively represent changes in water content,
whereas medium and long term changes may also involve the fat and muscle percentages.
• If your weight reduces over the short term, but your body fat percentage increases or remains the same,
you have merely lost water – e.g. after a training session, sauna session or a diet restricted only to rapid
weight loss.