Body composition · Sibiu

Body composition analysis in Sibiu, the numbers behind metabolic risk

Weight on its own says almost nothing. Body composition shows the balance between fat and muscle, and that is where the practical recommendations start.

Book an appointment 0771 193 295

Hand grip strength measured with a dynamometer, next to the artery and heart models in the practice

What body composition analysis shows

An ordinary set of scales gives you a single number and tells you nothing about what it is made of. Two people of the same weight and the same height can be in completely different situations: one with a lot of muscle mass and little fat, the other the other way round. Their cardiovascular risk cannot possibly be the same.

Body composition analysis breaks that number down into its parts. At the Biocord clinic we assess body composition using a precise method and obtain information about your fat percentage, muscle mass, hydration and metabolism.

This is where the practical advice starts from. These figures are essential for setting personalised recommendations on lifestyle, nutrition and physical activity. Without them, advice stays general, and general advice rarely changes anything.

The measurement does not hurt, involves no needles and takes a few minutes, within the consultation. Its value grows when it is repeated, because that is when you see the direction you are moving in, not just the point you are at today.

An electronic hand dynamometer squeezed in a fist, with the reading shown on its display

Who finds it useful

It makes the most sense when you have decisions to make about weight, food or movement and you want to start from figures rather than impressions.

You want to lose weight and you want to know whether you are losing fat or muscle
Your body mass index is high, or your waist is above the recommended values
You have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or insulin resistance
Fatty liver disease was found on an ultrasound
You have high blood pressure and your weight plays a part in it
You have raised cholesterol or triglycerides
You are over 50 and you want to know where you stand on muscle mass
You have started an exercise programme and you want a reference point to compare against
Your weight is normal, but you feel you have little muscle mass
You already have cardiovascular disease and you want to understand what you can change in practice

How it is done

It takes a few minutes and fits inside the cardiology consultation.

What to do beforehand
Ideally you come with an empty bladder, without having done intense exercise and without having drunk large amounts of fluid just before. You do not have to be fasting, but if you want to compare successive measurements properly, keep to the same conditions every time.
The measurement
The measurement is non invasive and does not hurt. No blood is taken, no radiation is used and you feel nothing while it happens. We tell you at booking whether any preparation is needed.
The result
You get your fat percentage, muscle mass, body water and metabolic indicators. The figures are read together with your blood pressure, your blood tests and your waist circumference, not in isolation.
The recommendations
From these figures we build the plan: how much protein you need, what kind of movement you are missing, what rate of weight loss is realistic for you and what exactly we will be looking at in the next measurement.

A body composition analysis report: weight, fat mass, muscle mass, water, body mass index, visceral fat, basal metabolic rate and a segmental breakdown for the arms, trunk and legs — The report the device prints, with the patient's details removed. Every value fits on one page; we read it through with you during the consultation. Open the report at full size

Why where the fat is matters, not just how much there is

Body fat is not all the same. The fat under the skin, on the arms and thighs, is relatively harmless in metabolic terms. The fat around the organs in the abdomen, called visceral fat, is the one that matters for the heart.

Visceral fat is metabolically active. It releases substances that keep inflammation going, encourage insulin resistance, raise blood pressure and alter the lipid profile. It explains why someone who does not look obese at all can still carry a high cardiometabolic risk.

That is why a raised visceral fat percentage is a signal worth following, even when the number on the scales looks acceptable. The good news is that this fat responds well to change: it is among the first to come down when the diet is corrected and regular movement is added.

Muscle mass matters as the mirror image. Muscle uses up glucose and helps control blood sugar, it supports your basal metabolism and it keeps you independent as you get older. Loss of muscle mass often goes unnoticed, because the weight stays the same while fat takes the place of muscle.

Measuring grip strength

Alongside body composition analysis, grip strength can also be measured. It is a simple test, using an instrument that measures force, in which you squeeze a handle as hard as you can for a few seconds.

Grip strength is a relevant indicator of general health and of cardiovascular risk. Studies show that reduced grip strength can be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.

The reason such an ordinary test says so much is that hand strength reflects overall muscle strength, which in turn depends on your level of activity, on nutrition and on the general state of the body. This simple measurement helps us assess muscle tone and the patient’s general condition.

In practice, we use the result as a reference point. Together with the muscle mass from the body composition analysis, it shows whether the right recommendation for you is first of all to lose weight or, on the contrary, to build muscle before anything else.

Prices

Prices
Service	Price
Cardiology consultation + ECG	400 lei
Cardiology consultation + ECG + echocardiography	620 lei
Cardiology follow-up + ECG	300 lei
Echocardiographyincludes an orientative assessment of the liver, the carotid arteries and the thyroid	400 lei
Holter ECG monitoring24 hours	370 lei
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)24 hours	370 lei
Exercise stress test on a cycle ergometer	450 lei
Body composition analysis	100 lei
Ankle-brachial index (ABI)with interpretation	100 lei
Electrocardiogram (ECG)	100 lei
ECG + SDS (sudden death screening)extended BTL assessment, for people up to the age of 35	150 lei
Intravenous Ferinject 500 mgmedication and medical supervision included	800 lei
Intravenous vitamin C (Pascorbin 7.5 g)product and medical supervision included	350 lei

You have seen the prices. Shall we go ahead?

Tell us what brings you to a cardiologist and we will suggest a time that works for you.

Book an appointment 0771 193 295

Frequently asked questions

How is it better than ordinary scales?

Ordinary scales tell you how much you weigh. Body composition analysis tells you what that weight is made of: how much is fat, how much is muscle mass, how much is water. They are different pieces of information, and the decision about what you have to do comes from the second one, not the first.

Do I need to come on an empty stomach?

It is not compulsory. What matters more is repeating the measurement under similar conditions, so you can compare. Ideally you come with an empty bladder, without intense exercise beforehand and without having drunk a lot of fluid in the last few minutes.

How long does it take?

The measurement itself takes a few minutes. The part that really matters is the conversation about what the results mean for you, and that happens within the consultation.

What is visceral fat?

It is the fat around the organs in the abdomen, as opposed to the fat under the skin. It is metabolically active, it keeps inflammation and insulin resistance going and it is directly linked to blood pressure and to the lipid profile. A raised level is worth following even when your weight looks fine.

Why does muscle mass matter for the heart?

Muscle uses up glucose and helps control blood sugar, it supports your metabolism and it is gradually lost with age if it is not used. Low muscle mass often appears alongside insulin resistance and reduced exercise capacity, and both of those matter for cardiovascular risk.

Can anyone have it done?

Tell us in advance if you have a pacemaker, an implanted defibrillator or if you are pregnant. Depending on the device used, some measurement methods are not recommended in these situations, and we then assess you another way, through waist circumference and following your weight over time.

How often should it be repeated?

It makes sense to repeat it when you are following a food or exercise plan and you want to see whether it is going in the right direction. We set the interval according to your goal. A measurement done too often shows nothing new, because real changes in composition need time.

Is it done separately or within the consultation?

It is usually done within the cardiology consultation, together with the other investigations at the clinic, because its value appears when the figures are read alongside your blood pressure, your blood tests and the rest of the assessment. Ask us on the phone when you book and we will tell you how it fits in your case.