At the Kahm Center, we use body composition analysis (BCA) as a tool to support individualized, evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. By assessing the internal state of the body—beyond external appearance or scale weight—BCA provides critical insights into physical recovery. This comprehensive approach ensures that care is focused on health and healing rather than weight or size.
ody composition analysis measures key indicators of the body’s internal health, including muscle mass, lean tissue (such as organs), body fat, total body water, bone mineral content, and cell health (phase angle). Unlike traditional metrics like weight or BMI, this testing offers a comprehensive view of how the body is functioning.
At the Kahm Center, BCA is conducted using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a quick, non-invasive method. During the test, small electrodes are attached to the hand and foot, sending an undetectable electrical current through the body. This process takes just a few minutes and provides highly detailed data that guides individualized nutrition and recovery plans.
BCA provides critical insights into how the body is functioning, such as whether nutritional intake is adequate to maintain essential lean tissue (including muscle and organ health), whether hydration levels are balanced, and whether cells are operating efficiently. These data points offer tangible evidence that helps clinicians guide treatment decisions while empowering clients to stay engaged in their recovery.
Eating disorders are frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated across a wide range of demographics due to systemic biases related to body size, age, race, gender, and other factors. BCA offers validating evidence of the impact of disordered behaviors, regardless of physical presentation, helping to ensure individuals receive appropriate care. This information also supports insurance coverage for necessary treatment, addressing one of the barriers to accessing adequate care.
1. Identifying Nutritional Needs:
BCA reveals critical insights into how the body is utilizing energy and nutrients. For example, phase angle (cell health) reflects how well cells are functioning, while total body water helps detect patterns like water-loading behaviors and bingeing, enabling clinicians to respond effectively without judgment.
2. Tracking Progress Over Time:
By monitoring changes in metrics like lean tissue and cell health, BCA allows clinicians to track physical recovery. These trends offer valuable feedback that supports both the client and the treatment team in setting appropriate goals.
3. Supporting Individualized Care:
Unlike scale weight, BCA provides actionable data to guide treatment plans. For instance, a decrease in lean tissue may indicate the need for adjustments to a meal plan or additional support, while an increase reflects progress toward re-nourishment. These insights help clinicians tailor care while encouraging clients to stay engaged in their recovery.
At the Kahm Center, we integrate BCA into a weight-neutral approach to eating disorder treatment. This means that while body composition analysis provides important data, the focus is always on internal health and recovery—not weight loss or appearance.
Results are used by the clinical team to guide care and are never shared as raw numbers with clients. Instead, trends are discussed in a supportive, educational manner to help clients understand their recovery progress. This approach empowers individuals to see the value of proper nourishment and the tangible improvements in their bodies, helping them rebuild trust with their bodies and their treatment team.
Body composition analysis is one of the tools our registered dietitians use to inform nutritional counseling. Nutritional counseling is just one component of our comprehensive programs, which also include individual and group therapy, experiential work, and opportunities to build and practice recovery skills in real-world settings. Together, these elements provide the foundation for meaningful progress and lasting recovery.
If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to the Kahm Center in Burlington, Vermont, and take the first step toward healing.
To better understand our weight-neutral philosophy and how tools like BCA and metabolic testing support recovery, visit our blog: “Metabolic Testing and Body Composition Analysis: A Weight-Neutral Approach”.
Nick Kahm, a former philosophy faculty member at St. Michael's College in Colchester, VT, transitioned from academia to running the Kahm Clinic with his mother. He started the clinic to train dietitians in using Metabolic Testing and Body Composition Analysis for helping people with eating disorders. Now, he is enthusiastic about expanding eating disorder treatment through the Kahm Center for Eating Disorders in Vermont.
