InBody Scan London: What It Measures and How to Read It

Looking for an InBody scan in London? It’s one of the quickest ways to see what your body is made of, not just what it weighs. We use one at our Archway studio to track fat lost and muscle gained. Here’s what it measures, how to read your results and how to get a reliable reading.

What is an InBody scan?

An InBody scan is a body composition analysis using a method called bioelectrical impedance. You stand barefoot on the machine and hold two handles. A very small, painless electrical current passes through your body. Because water, muscle and fat conduct electricity differently, the machine uses the resistance it measures to estimate how much of your body is muscle, fat and water.

It takes under a minute, you stay fully clothed (minus shoes and socks), and you get a printout straight away.

The big advantage over a normal bathroom scale is that it splits your weight into its parts. Two people can weigh exactly the same and look completely different, because one carries more muscle and the other more fat. Weight alone can’t show that difference. A body composition scan can.

What does an InBody scan measure?

Depending on the model, an InBody scan typically reports:

• Weight, as on any scale.
• Skeletal muscle mass, the muscle you can train and build.
• Body fat mass, in kilograms.
• Percent body fat, the share of your weight that is fat.
• Total body water.
• Segmental analysis, an estimate of lean mass in each arm, each leg and the trunk.
• Extras such as a visceral fat level and an estimated basal metabolic rate.

How to read your InBody scan results

The most useful numbers to focus on are skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass and percent body fat. Here’s how to think about them:

• Weight down, body fat mass down, muscle steady or up: the ideal result when losing weight. You’re losing fat, not muscle.
• Weight the same, fat down, muscle up: body recomposition. The scale says nothing has happened, but your body has changed. More on this in how to lose fat and build muscle.
• Weight down, muscle down a lot: often a sign that calories are too low or protein and strength training need attention.

The segmental readings can also show if one side or one area is noticeably behind, which is useful information for your training plan.

Don’t worry too much about small changes of a few hundred grams between scans. Look at the direction across several readings. If your body fat mass is falling and your skeletal muscle mass is holding or rising, your plan is working, even if the scale is slow to move.

InBody scan accuracy

An InBody scan is an estimate, not a direct measurement. It’s quick, non-invasive and consistent when used properly, which makes it very good for tracking change over time. But the reading can be pushed up or down by things that have nothing to do with fat or muscle:

• Hydration. Being dehydrated or having just drunk a lot of water changes the reading.
• Food. A large meal shortly before the scan adds weight and can affect the results.
• Exercise. A hard workout shifts fluid around your body and changes how the current travels.
• Time of day and menstrual cycle, both of which affect fluid levels.

So a single reading has some margin of error. That’s why we care about the trend across several scans, taken the same way each time.

InBody scan before or after a workout?

Always before. Exercise changes fluid balance and body temperature, which can make results less reliable. To get the most consistent InBody scan results:

1. Scan at the same time of day each time, ideally in the morning.
2. Scan before eating a meal and before training.
3. Use the toilet first so you have an empty bladder.
4. Avoid heavy exercise in the hours beforehand, and ideally the day before.
5. Keep caffeine and alcohol similar to normal the day before, and drink water as usual.
6. Wear similar light clothing each time.

Why trends matter more than one reading

One scan is a snapshot. Four scans across 12 weeks, taken under the same conditions, tell a story. Small day-to-day swings even out, and the direction of travel becomes clear. This matters because the bathroom scale often hides real progress. Someone can lose fat and gain muscle and see very little change in weight. If you’re wondering what’s realistic over that time, read how much weight can you lose in 12 weeks.

Not suitable for everyone: InBody scans are not recommended if you have a pacemaker or another implanted electronic medical device, or if you’re pregnant. If you’re unsure, check with your GP before having a scan. An InBody scan is not a medical test and doesn’t diagnose any condition.

InBody scan London: SYP Fitness Archway

Every client gets an InBody scan at our private studio at 2-4 Navigator Square, Archway, 2 minutes’ walk from Archway tube. The 30-Day Kickstarter (£300) includes an InBody scan alongside 8 one-to-one sessions, a food plan and a daily habits tracker. The 12-Week Body Transformation includes an InBody scan every 4 weeks, so you can see fat lost and muscle gained across the programme. Full details are on our personal training prices page, and you can see what clients have achieved on our results page.

Want this coached 1-to-1? Get your InBody scan as part of the 30-Day Kickstarter. Book a free consultation at our Archway studio.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get an InBody scan in London?

SYP Fitness includes InBody scans at our private studio in Archway, North London, as part of the 30-Day Kickstarter and every 4 weeks on the 12-Week Body Transformation.

How accurate is an InBody scan?

It is an estimate based on bioelectrical impedance, so hydration, food and exercise can affect it. It is very useful for tracking trends when you scan under the same conditions each time.

Should I do an InBody scan before or after a workout?

Before. Scan at the same time of day, before eating or training, with an empty bladder, and avoid heavy exercise beforehand.

Who should not have an InBody scan?

People with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device, and anyone who is pregnant. If you are unsure, check with your GP first.

Start your transformation

SYP Fitness is a private 1-to-1 personal training studio at 2-4 Navigator Square, Archway, London N19 3UB, 2 minutes from Archway tube. Rated 5.0 from 106 Google reviews.

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