When is the Best Time to Get a Body Composition Test?
Learn the ideal times for getting the most precise body composition measurements. We outline schedules maximizing accuracy of testing body fat percentage.
Undergoing body composition evaluations delivering metrics like weight, muscle mass, and body fat percentage provides insight on fitness levels and health status.
But what’s the optimal timing for accurate appraisals? This guide covers ideal schedules to get the most accurate body composition test results.
Morning Testing After Overnight Fast
For credible body composition appraisals like DEXA scans gauging bone density, lean mass, and fat percentage, testing facilities advocate morning testing after an overnight fasting period abstaining from food or drink (besides water).
Overnight fasting allows previous meals to fully metabolize, leaving little active digestion. This permits accurate body fat readings untainted by recent caloric intake that can obscure results.
Morning testing also captures the body at a resting state before daytime calories or exercise potentially skew data.
For example, intense workouts just before appointments cause temporary swelling that alters readings. Scheduling early appointments enables capturing baseline metrics after extended non-active hours.
Consistent Testing Schedule
While monitoring body composition changes over a diet, training cycle, or weight loss program, consistency is key for credible comparisons.
Experts emphasize adhering to a regular testing cadence like monthly appointments, always first thing in the morning after similar overnight fasting durations.
Maintaining this schedule relativity neutralizes variables between tests like hydration status, ensuring accurateFat percentage} tracking.
Compare these scenarios of inconsistent vs consistent testing:
❌ Poor Testing Schedule
✅ Consistent Testing Schedule
Test 1: Evening post-workout after large dinner
Test 1: 8 AM after 12 hour overnight fast
Test 2: Next afternoon after big breakfast
Test 2: 8 AM after 12 hour overnight fast
Test 3: Two weeks later in morning after no fasting
Test 3: 8 AM after 12 hour overnight fast
Modulating Testing Frequency
Although experts recommend a monthly testing cadence for average individuals monitoring body composition, certain contexts warrant increased frequencies.
For individuals in phases with shifting nutritional intake like aggressive dieting, weekly or bi-weekly measurements provide useful fat loss insights during active flux.
Additionally, recalibrating assessments pre- and post-weight loss plateaus diagnoses current strategies, indicating whether an intervention adjustment gets back on track.
For example:
- Regular dieter: Monthly testing
- Prepping for bodybuilding show: Bi-weekly testing
- Stuck at weight loss plateau: Pre and post plateau testing
On the other hand, highly athletic populations with already low body fat see little benefit from excessively regular testing outside of injury recovery and biannual health screens.
Accounting for Life Factors Impacting Accuracy
Though aim for optimally-timed, fasting-state morning testing sessions for credible body composition insights, certain real-world constraints affect achievability.
Scheduling tests around inflexible factors maximizes accuracy despite life limitations like:
Work schedules: Arrive early before daily obligations
Travel: Test immediately upon return
Injuries: Postpone until fully healed
Do your best within logistical confines. For example, test first thing after reduced overnight fasts if schedule prevents full fasting.