Beurer BF 700 - Manual (Page 18)

18
Bone mass
Like the rest of our body, our bones are subject to the natural development, degeneration and ageing pro-
cesses. Bone mass increases rapidly in childhood and reaches its maximum between 30 and 40 years 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). Little influence can be exerted on bone mass, but
it will vary slightly within the influencing factors (weight, height, age, gender). no recognised guidelines or
recommendations relating to bone mass measurement.
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 tomogra-
phy, ultrasound). It is therefore not possible to draw conclusions concerning changes to the bones
and bone hardness (e.g. osteoporosis) using this scale.
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-Benedict
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 diag-
nostic 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 decrease. 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
Remember that only long-term trends are important. Short-term fluctuations in weight over a few
days are usually 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. Sudden 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.
• If your weight increases over the medium term and the body fat percentage falls or stays the same, then
you could have built up valuable muscle mass.
• If your weight and body fat percentage fall simultaneously then your diet is working – you are losing fat
mass.
• Ideally you should support your diet with physical activity, fitness or power training.
This way you can increase your muscle percentage over the medium term.
• Body fat, body water or muscle percentages should not be added (certain elements of muscle tissue
also contain body water).