Our bodies undergo changes with age, monitoring these alterations is important, even though assessing them is often more difficult and problematic. Body weight and BMI (body mass index) have been shown to be inadequate indicators for monitoring these changes.

These variables do not show the amount of Fat Mass (FM) or Fat Free Mass (FFM). Therefore nutritional assessment is essential in order to identify potential causes of inadequate nutrition status, including the risk of malnutrition. Performing these measurements in patients enables us to identify related disorders and to monitor the effects of any treatment.

BIA provides us with important information regarding change in body composition during growth, ageing and disease. Detailed information can be obtained in the areas of nutrition, intracellular and extracellular body fluids. Extracellular water (ECW) increases in different diseases and edema is often the most common sign of ECW expansion. Although these changes in fluid compartments have a clinical significance, no method has been put in place to detect and monitor these changes. More over, intracellular water (ICW) also changes especially in early stages of heart failure, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure. Body composition assessments have been performed in several clinical areas using BIA on patients with fluid retention, malnutrition, diabetes, eating disorders and obesity.

Other areas in which BIA has been found to be an indispensable tool is in the estimation of dry weight, surgery, in cardiovascular patients, gastroenterology, HIV, pediatrics, endocrine and metabolic disorders, during pregnancy, on the elderly and many more.

Assessing fat and regional fat distribution is important in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases such as chronic heart failure, pulmonary disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Obesity has been identified as a risk factor which is associated with not only Coronary Artery Disease but also related diseases like hypertension and many others. At the other extreme, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients tend to be overweight or obese. Heart lung transplant patients taking immunosuppressant drugs after surgery, typically gain weight due to an increase in Fat Mass (FM). Measuring these changes in clinical settings is of significant importance.