How to Read Your InBody Results, Line by Line
To read InBody results, start with the Muscle-Fat Analysis bars, not the weight. Compare the length of the skeletal muscle mass bar with the body fat mass bar: that shape tells you more than any single number. Then check body fat percentage, look at segmental lean mass for left-right differences, glance at the water ratio to see whether the reading is reliable, and finally compare against your previous scans. Treat any single scan as a snapshot. The useful information is in the trend across several scans taken under the same conditions.
The layout differs slightly between InBody models, and some sections only appear on certain machines, but the core sections below are on most result sheets. If you have never had a scan and want to know what it involves first, read what an InBody scan is before this.
Section 1: Body Composition Analysis
The top block breaks your weight into components: total body water, protein, minerals and body fat mass. Water, protein and minerals together make up your lean mass, often labelled fat-free mass.
Most people skim this section, and that is reasonable. The two numbers worth noting are body fat mass in kilograms and the total weight. Protein here is the protein in your body tissue, not the protein you eat, a point that confuses many first-time readers.
Section 2: Muscle-Fat Analysis (read this first)
Three horizontal bars: weight, skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and body fat mass. Each bar sits against a scale where 100% represents the typical value for someone of your height and sex. The bars are not meant to sit in a perfect line, but their relative lengths form a shape.
| Shape | What the bars look like | What it usually suggests |
|---|---|---|
| C-shape | Muscle bar shorter than weight and fat bars | Relatively low muscle for your weight; strength training is the priority |
| I-shape | All three roughly level | Balanced; the goal depends on your aims |
| D-shape | Muscle bar longer than weight and fat bars | Good muscle relative to weight, common in people who lift |
A C-shape is common in people who look slim but carry little muscle, which is a pattern we cover in our post on being skinny fat. For more on the muscle number itself, see skeletal muscle mass on an InBody scan.
Section 3: Obesity Analysis - BMI and body fat percentage
BMI is included because it is a standard screening measure, but it only uses height and weight, so it cannot tell muscle from fat. A muscular person can have a high BMI and very little fat. The NHS BMI page explains the measure and its limits.
Percent body fat (PBF) is the more useful figure on this sheet. It is still an estimate rather than a lab measurement, so read it as a guide and track the direction it moves. A drop of a fraction of a percent between two scans is within normal day-to-day variation; a steady fall over three or four scans is real change.
Section 4: Segmental Lean Analysis
This shows estimated lean mass in each arm, each leg and the trunk, both in kilograms and as a percentage of the expected value for your size. Two things to look for:
- Left-right differences. Small differences are normal, especially in the arms of right- or left-handed people. A larger gap in the legs can point to an old injury or a habit of favouring one side, and is worth discussing with your trainer.
- Upper-lower balance. Some people, often runners and cyclists, have well-developed legs and a relatively light upper body; others are the reverse. This helps decide where extra training volume goes.
Some models also show a segmental fat analysis. It is interesting, but remember that you cannot choose where you lose fat from; our post on spot reducing fat explains why.
Section 5: ECW ratio (the reliability check)
ECW/TBW is the proportion of your body water that sits outside your cells. The sheet shows it against a normal range. For training purposes, its main job is quality control. If this ratio is noticeably different from your usual, something has changed the water balance on the day: a hard session the day before, a long-haul flight, a salty meal, illness or swelling. When that happens, read the muscle and fat figures from that scan with more caution.
A trainer is not qualified to interpret this ratio medically. If you have a health condition affecting fluid balance, that conversation belongs with your GP.
Section 6: Visceral fat level
An estimate of fat stored around the organs in the abdomen, shown as a level rather than a weight. It tends to respond to the same things as overall fat loss: a modest calorie deficit, regular activity, strength training, sleep and moderating alcohol. We have a full post on the visceral fat level if this number is the one that worries you.
Section 7: Basal metabolic rate
An estimate of the energy your body uses at complete rest, calculated largely from lean mass. It is a reasonable starting point, but it is not your daily calorie need: that is higher, because it includes everything you do. Use it as context, not as a target.
Section 8: History and score
The history panel at the bottom lists your recent scans side by side. This is the most valuable part of the sheet once you have three or more readings. Some models also give an overall score. It is a convenient summary but rewards muscle gain heavily, so do not read too much into small movements.
Making scans comparable
Readings are affected by hydration, food, recent exercise and time of day. To make the trend meaningful:
- Scan at the same time of day, ideally in the morning.
- Avoid eating a large meal or drinking a lot in the couple of hours before.
- Do not train hard immediately before the scan.
- Use the toilet beforehand.
- Wear similar light clothing and remove jewellery and watches.
- Leave four to eight weeks between scans for most goals.
Our guide on preparing for an InBody scan goes into more detail.
Numbers people over-read
- A small muscle drop after a holiday. Usually water and stored carbohydrate, not lost muscle.
- A jump in fat after one heavy weekend. One weekend rarely changes fat mass meaningfully; fluid shifts can.
- Comparing with a friend’s result. Different body, often a different machine, different conditions.
- Chasing the score. The point is to get stronger and healthier, not to win a printout.
How we use the sheet in the studio
In our private studio on Archway Road, the InBody scanner is part of coached personal training. We scan at the start, go through the sheet together, and repeat at regular intervals under matched conditions so the trend is honest. The numbers inform the programme - for example, extra upper-body volume where segmental lean mass is low - alongside strength progress and how you feel. You can read more about our 1-1 personal training in Highgate.
Questions we get asked
Why did my muscle mass go down when I have been training hard?
Often hydration. A hard session the day before, less carbohydrate, or a dehydrated morning can lower the lean reading. Look at the trend over several scans.
What is a good body fat percentage?
It depends on age, sex and goals, and the sheet shows a reference range. Direction of travel matters more than hitting a particular figure.
Is the InBody accurate?
It is consistent when conditions are matched, which makes it good for tracking change. Absolute values are estimates, as with any non-lab method.
Can I book a scan on its own?
The scanner is used within coached sessions rather than as a stand-alone service. Our personal trainer page explains how sessions run.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready to start training properly? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · Private personal training
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
