The initial studies were performed at the University of Southern California, using the hydrostatic under water weighing tank, which is considered the gold standard for accuracy in measuring body composition analysis.

Published Data “A Simple And Accurate Method For the Clinical Diagnosis Of Obesity” R.N. Girandola, Ed.D., S. A. Contarsy, M.A. R.A. Wiswell, Ph.D., and Raul Artal, M.D. Department of Exercise Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0652 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse Medical Center Syracuse, NY 13210 Other references
Hundreds of patients were dunked and mathematical algorithms were developed, correlating the electrical impedance to the hydrostatic tank and the data was published in medical journals such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Electrodes are placed on the patient’s right hand and foot and a small current of electricity is sent through the body and the impedance is measured. Muscle is 70-75% water so electricity flows quickly with less impedance and fat is only 3-13% water so electricity flows slowly.| Christopher Fuzy MS, RD, LD Clinical Nutritionist Performing Nutritional & Metabolic Assessment |
![]() |
Please View Video for Demonstration – Test takes less than 1 minute
The results suggest that the 4 electrode upper and lower impedance testing has a plus or minus 2% accuracy as compared to the hydrostatic tank. Retest accuracy, retesting on the same patient is approximately plus or minus ½ % accuracy.
So for measuring change within the same patient it becomes an extremely useful and reliable tool.
The limitations with body fat scales or hand held devices are that these devices only measure upper or lower impedance only, not total body impedance – which is a problem with apple or pear

Since, some individuals place their weight in their abdominal area and others in their gluteual area measuring only upper or lower body impedance has its limitations with accuracy.
Accuracy & reliability is the primary reason we use a 4-electrode upper & lower electrical impedance analyzer.
The Lifestyle Nutrition Metabolic Analyzer ™ will correlate the correct amount of food based on your metabolic rate, resting energy expenditure, activities of daily living, calories burned by anaerobic and aerobic exercises, based on the patients lean body weight.
