Using the AURA Strap 2 to track your body composition is a powerful way to monitor your health and fitness progress. However, it’s essential to understand how to read the measurement results and why some percentages might not add up the way you’d expect.
The Basics of Body Composition
The AURA Strap 2 provides detailed insights into your body composition, including measurements for:
- Fat: The percentage of your body composed of fat.
- Muscle Mass: The percentage of your body that is muscle.
- Water: The total water content in your body.
- Visceral Fat: The fat stored around your organs.
- Protein: The percentage of your body composed of protein.
- Lean Mass: The total mass of your body excluding fat (including muscles, bones, water, and organs).
- Minerals: The percentage of your body composed of essential minerals.
- BMI (Body Mass Index): A value derived from your height and weight to assess body weight categories.
Why Percentages May Exceed 100%
While some parameters like lean mass and fat mass may be equal to 100%, the other measurements, like water and muscle mass, cannot be summed up in the same way. This is because these metrics overlap. For example:
- A significant portion of fat-free mass is made up of muscle.
- About 73% of fat-free mass is water.
- Water is also a major component of muscles.
Example Breakdown
Here’s a typical example of body composition data: Fat Mass: 25%, Water: 55%, Muscles: 40%
If you try to sum these values blindly:
Water (55%) + Muscles (40%) + Fat (25%) = 120%
The extra 20% comes from double-counting water that is already part of muscle mass. Water exists within muscles, so it’s important not to add these percentages together as though they’re entirely separate components.
How to Use the Data
Rather than focusing on trying to add up percentages, consider each metric individually to get a clear picture of your body’s composition. Focus on Goals! Use these measurements to guide your fitness and health objectives.