How a BIA body analysis keeps boosting my patients’ motivation
Guest author: Berdien van Wezel, Owner of Healthy Living Dietitians Practice (Gezond Leven Diëtisten)
How a BIA body analysis keeps boosting my patients’ motivation
When patients come to the dietetics practice for a first consultation, they often have questions such as: how can I lower my body fat percentage and increase muscle mass? Or should I eat more fat if my body fat percentage is too low?
Food diary
I advise patients, before the consultation, to keep track of what they eat and drink in a nutrition app or simply in a notebook. This helps me gain insight into their dietary intake, and also to see what their eating pattern is. It helps not only me but, above all, the patient. It is often the first moment of awareness of their eating habits. For example, they see that they eat when it suits them, experience that they do not have the right foods at home, or quickly buy a snack in the supermarket because they forgot to bring food.
At the intake I discuss the eating habits and the current food intake. Based on this, I give advice. However, not without first having done a body analysis.
Result of the BIA measurement
With the help of the BIA measurement, I read, among other things, the current muscle mass, the fat percentage and the percentage of body water. I tailor my nutritional advice partly on the basis of the results of the measurement. Is the muscle mass too low? Then extra protein is necessary. The measuring takes only a few minutes and is woven into the consultation. While we talk, the patient stands on the BIA monitor, and the result flows directly into my patient program, thanks to the link to the Evry Software*.
Increasing motivation
By measuring regularly, the patient sees what is changing positively in fat percentage and muscle mass. I can explain how favorable this development is for health. And in addition, if necessary, propose changes in the dietary advice to further lower the fat percentage and increase muscle mass. By working this way I see that the patient is more motivated to stick to the program, which means we achieve the desired goal more often.
Monitoring food intake
I teach the patient to monitor their own food intake and to check whether they are getting enough kcal and protein each day. The explanation of the body analysis is particularly valuable and helpful for the patient, so they are happy to come back.
Note:
*Market dependent feature, ask your territory representative.
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