What type of impulse is sent through the body in bio-electrical impedance measurement?

In bio-electrical impedance measurement, a weak electrical impulse is sent through the body to assess body composition. This method works by sending a small, safe electrical current through the body and measuring the resistance (impedance) encountered as it travels through different tissues, such as fat and lean mass.

The nature of the electrical impulse is crucial because a weak impulse ensures that the current does not cause any discomfort or harm to the individual. This gentle current is able to traverse various bodily tissues, allowing for accurate differentiation between fat mass and lean mass based on their respective resistances to the flow of electricity. Lean tissue, which is more conductive due to its higher water content, allows the electrical impulse to flow more easily than fat tissue, which is less conductive.

This technique provides valuable data for calculation of body composition metrics, such as body fat percentage and lean body mass, making the understanding of the type of impulse used in the process essential for accurate measurements.