The InBody Machine at Tracey Bell

Understanding Your Body – Beyond the Scales

By Dr Tracey Bell

At Tracey Bell Clinics, we’ve always believed that true health and wellbeing go far beyond a number on the scales. Over the past nine years, one piece of technology has become absolutely central to how we support our patients in understanding their bodies better – whether they’re trying to lose fat, build muscle, or simply improve their overall health.

That technology is the InBody machine.

The InBody machine is not just a set of scales. It’s an advanced body composition analyser that gives us detailed insight into what your body is really made of – from fat and muscle to water, bone mass, and more. And in my opinion, it’s one of the most valuable tools in any medical, dental, aesthetic or weight-focused practice.

So, what exactly is the InBody machine? Why do we use it? And how does it help us provide safer, smarter, and more personalised care?

Let me explain.

What Is the InBody Machine?

The InBody machine is a state-of-the-art device that provides a full breakdown of your body’s composition. Unlike ordinary scales, which only show weight, the InBody machine reveals what that weight is made up of – dividing it into key areas such as:

• Body Fat Mass

• Skeletal Muscle Mass

• Visceral Fat

• Body Water (Intracellular & Extracellular)

• Bone Mineral Content

• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

It works by sending a safe, low-level electrical current through your body via electrodes – one under each foot and hand. This method, known as multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), measures how that current travels through different types of tissue:

• Muscle, rich in water, conducts electricity quickly.

• Fat, which resists electrical flow, slows the current.

• Water compartments – both inside and outside the cells – are calculated independently.

The result? A comprehensive and incredibly accurate report of your body’s current state. The scan takes less than a minute, and it’s completely painless, non-invasive, and requires no preparation other than removing your shoes and socks.

Why It Matters More Than the Scales

I often meet patients who say, “I’ve lost 5lb, but I don’t look any different”, or “I feel stronger, but the scale hasn’t moved.” That’s because weight alone is a blunt tool – it doesn’t tell us what we’re actually gaining or losing.

The InBody machine gives us a far more intelligent view. When someone is on a weight loss journey, for example, we want to know:

• Are they losing fat or muscle?

• Is their hydration level affecting their weight?

• Is their visceral fat – the dangerous fat around organs – decreasing?

And if they’re on a journey to gain muscle, we want to measure:

• Which limbs are gaining strength?

• Is there symmetry in the body’s muscle development?

• How is that influencing their metabolism and energy levels?

These are the insights that help us adjust treatments, offer guidance, and truly personalise care.

Understanding BMI – And Why It’s Not the Full Story

The InBody machine does calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) – a commonly used formula that compares your weight to your height. But as a healthcare professional, I’ve always said: BMI has its limitations.

It doesn’t account for muscle mass, water retention, bone structure, or fat distribution. That means two people with the same BMI can have vastly different health profiles.

The InBody machine lets us put BMI into context. If a patient has a high BMI but also has a high muscle mass and low visceral fat, we know they’re metabolically healthy. If someone has a “normal” BMI but poor muscle mass and high visceral fat, we know there’s a need for intervention.

It’s about quality over quantity – and accuracy over assumption.

How We Use InBody at Tracey Bell

We’ve had our InBody machine installed at the clinic for over nine years, and in that time, it’s become a central part of how we support patients in their health and weight management journeys.

Every patient who begins a weight loss plan with us – whether they’re taking Wegovy, Mounjaro, or following a nutrition-led approach – will begin with a full InBody scan. This gives us a baseline and allows us to monitor:

• Fat loss versus muscle retention

• Changes in hydration

• Improvements in metabolic rate

• Shifts in visceral fat levels

We repeat scans regularly, and the data often leads to surprising insights. Many patients feel encouraged when they learn that they’ve gained muscle and lost fat, even if the scales haven’t changed dramatically. That level of detail – and reassurance – is something no bathroom scale can offer.

InBody and Weight Loss Injections

Personalising Treatment with Mounjaro and Wegovy

Over the last few years, our clinic has seen a significant rise in patients seeking weight loss injections, particularly Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). These medications are truly transformative – but their success doesn’t lie solely in the weekly injection. It lies in how we monitor progress, adjust treatment, and support the person as a whole.

This is exactly where the InBody machine becomes invaluable.

When a patient starts on Mounjaro or Wegovy, we conduct a full InBody scan to establish a baseline composition. That includes their fat mass, skeletal muscle, visceral fat, total body water, and metabolic rate. We then repeat the scan every four to six weeks to track the journey.

What makes this different from simply weighing yourself at home? Everything.

• If someone is losing fat but maintaining or gaining muscle, we know the treatment is going well.

• If someone is losing weight but also losing muscle mass, we’ll intervene – with dietary support, protein guidance, or changes in physical activity.

• If visceral fat (the most dangerous type of fat) is reducing, we can confidently say their metabolic health is improving.

• And if someone’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) is dropping, we’ll take steps to prevent a plateau.

This level of monitoring allows us to tailor treatment individually – not based on assumptions, but based on science. It also allows patients to feel more informed, empowered, and in control of their journey.

InBody for Muscle Gain and Fitness Tracking

It’s not just about weight loss. Many patients – especially those going through menopause, recovering from illness, or training at the gym – are focused on building lean muscle, improving strength, or achieving better balance and mobility.

The InBody machine gives us detailed insight into each limb and muscle group. It can identify asymmetries, monitor growth, and show how your training programme is working.

We often use InBody with patients who:

• Are undergoing post-surgical recovery

• Want to improve core strength and posture

• Are looking to increase protein intake and track its effect

• Need help managing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)

Seeing progress on paper – whether it’s in your legs, trunk, or arms – is incredibly motivating. It’s a tangible way to keep track of fitness goals, and it removes the emotional attachment to the bathroom scale.

The Link Between Body Composition and Aesthetics

As a dentist and aesthetic practitioner, I’m particularly interested in the relationship between body composition and facial aesthetics. And yes – the two are deeply connected.

When patients lose weight, particularly rapidly or without guidance, it can impact the mid-face, temples, and jawline, leading to:

• Hollowing under the eyes

• Loss of cheek volume

• Loosening of the lower face and neck

By using the InBody machine to track muscle preservation, ensure slow fat loss, and monitor hydration, we can help patients maintain facial structure and protect their aesthetic results.

It also helps when planning treatments like:

• Dermal fillers – where understanding hydration and metabolism affects results

• Skin tightening – to assess whether fat loss is contributing to laxity

• Body contouring – ensuring healthy fat loss before investing in treatments

This integrated approach – medical, aesthetic and wellness – is what makes Tracey Bell Clinics truly unique.

Real Stories from Real Patients

Here are just a few examples of how the InBody machine has helped our patients over the years:

Case 1: Danielle – 42, weight loss with Wegovy

Danielle began her weight loss programme with us weighing 13 stone. She’d tried everything – diets, shakes, gym classes – but her weight hadn’t shifted significantly. With Wegovy and monthly InBody scans, we discovered:

• She was retaining water due to stress and poor sleep

• Her fat was reducing steadily, even when weight plateaued

• Her metabolic rate improved by 80 kcal/day with increased protein

After 5 months, she’d lost 8kg of fat, preserved her muscle, and reduced visceral fat to a healthy range. The InBody machine was critical in keeping her motivated and focused on the right kind of progress.

Case 2: Steven – 56, rebuilding strength after illness

Steven came to us after a long hospital stay. He wanted to gain muscle, improve energy, and feel like himself again. His initial scan showed:

• Low skeletal muscle mass

• High body fat percentage despite a “normal” BMI

• Low intracellular water (dehydration)

With tailored nutrition, resistance training, and InBody tracking, Steven gained 3.5kg of lean muscle, dropped 2% body fat, and improved balance and strength. Seeing the numbers made all the difference to his mindset and consistency.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Personalised Care

I genuinely believe that body composition analysis – not weight alone – is the future of healthcare, wellness and aesthetic medicine. As we move away from outdated ideas of “ideal weight”, we must embrace a more intelligent, holistic, and personalised view of the human body.

The InBody machine gives us the data we need to do that.

At Tracey Bell, we’ve already started integrating InBody scans into a wide range of treatments, including:

• Medical weight loss clinics

• Facial aesthetic planning

• Body contouring programmes

• Hormone and menopause support

• Post-surgical recovery

• Athletic performance and injury rehab

And the potential is only growing.

Final Thoughts – More Than a Machine

To me, the InBody isn’t just a machine. It’s a mindset – a commitment to looking deeper, thinking smarter, and treating each patient as a whole person.

It’s helped us move away from generic advice and towards truly bespoke care. It’s helped patients see their bodies not as enemies to battle, but as systems to understand and support.

And most importantly – it’s helped change lives.

If you’re ready to understand your body on a deeper level, whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, or simply knowledge – we’d love to welcome you to the clinic.

Let the numbers tell your story