Which BIA monitor is the most suitable for me as a dietitian?

Which BIA monitor is the most suitable for me as a dietitian?

A body analysis measurement is a fixed part of my consultation. It gives me a lot of information about body composition, which guides good dietary advice. Weight alone says too little. A BIA measurement also provides insight into fat percentage, muscle mass, fluid percentage and visceral fat.

When purchasing a BIA monitor I pay attention to the following factors:

1. Ease of use

Simple to operate and easy to store in a lockable cabinet.

2. Service 

Check the warranty period and whether the supplier provides service after purchase. My experience is that a BIA monitor lasts at least 10 years. I even have one that has been going for 15 years. It works like a charm, but this is also because the supplier TANITA quickly solves my problems, for example if there is a technical problem and the BIA monitor does not want to start up. Quickly establish an online connection and within a few minutes everything works properly again.

3. Target group

Make sure the device matches your target group. If, for example, you mainly measure older adults or young people, check that the right measurements are available. I measure patients during surgery hours. These are mainly patients with malnutrition as a result of disease, patients with obesity and patients with lipoedema and lymphoedema. It is important then to have a precise, accurate measurement with equipment that uses 8 electrodes. This means a measurement of the whole body and not only a measurement of the lower body.

4. Workshops

If I run a BIA workshop within a company, and it is the employees’ first introduction to a BIA monitor, then I am satisfied with a measurement up to the hip, in which an assumption is made for the upper body. Because I carry out hundreds of measurements per year, I can, on the basis of my experience, make a good assessment.

5. Portable or stand alone

 A portable device is extremely handy to take with you if you work within a company or if you make a home visit. At some locations where I work, our workspace is in use by us all week and a stand-alone device is convenient.

6. Supporting software

 For me it is important that I can include the measurement data in the patient’s file. Thanks to the TANITA link with the Evry software this is automatically integrated. In addition, I can also give the measurement data to the patient.

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