Preparing for Your InBody 970 Scan
Your preparation matters. Follow this protocol and your results will be as accurate as the technology allows.
Correctly preparing for InBody ensures accuracy and consistency. The InBody 970 is a precision instrument validated in over 8,000 peer-reviewed studies. It delivers 99% test-retest reproducibility, but that precision depends on you arriving in the right condition. The protocol below is straightforward. Follow it consistently, especially between repeat scans, and the data you walk away with will be data you can trust.
BEFORE Your Scan
The InBody 970 measures your body composition through bioelectrical impedance. Anything that changes your hydration, body temperature, or gut contents will shift the readings. The goal is to arrive in a stable, baseline state every time. If you haven’t already, read about what the InBody 970 is and how it works on our About the InBody 970 page.
The Pre-Scan Protocol
No Food for 2 to 3 Hours
Food in your system adds mass that gets measured mostly as lean tissue and shifts your water distribution. Arrive with an empty stomach and minimise fluid intake alongside food, for the cleanest baseline.
No Strenuous Exercise for 2 to 3 Hours
Exercise redistributes blood flow and water between your intracellular and extracellular compartments, which directly affects impedance measurements.
No Hot or Cold Therapies for 2 to 3 Hours
Hot showers, saunas, steam rooms, spas, and ice baths all change your skin temperature and peripheral blood flow. Both alter conductivity at the electrodes.
No Alcohol for 24 Hours
Alcohol is a diuretic that disrupts your fluid balance and will skew your body water readings. Avoid it for at least 24 hours before your scan.
Use the Bathroom
Bladder and bowel contents add mass that the device cannot distinguish from body tissue. Empty both before you step on.
Stay Normally Hydrated
Maintain your normal water intake the day before. Do not over-hydrate or dehydrate to try to manipulate your results. In the 2 to 3 hours before your scan, minimise fluid intake alongside food.
What CLOTHING to wear
Wear light, comfortable clothing. Gym wear or activewear is ideal. The InBody 970 is calibrated to subtract 300 grams for standard light clothing (and we can adjust this at our discretion when needed), so there is no need to undress.
Remove jewellery (rings allowed), watches, bracelets, and heavy hair accessories before stepping on the device. Remove your shoes, socks, and stockings. Your feet must make direct contact with the foot electrodes and your hands must make direct contact with the hand electrodes for the scan to work.
If you are coming from work or arriving in heavier clothing, that is fine. Just be prepared to strip down to a lighter base layer before your scan. Steve will give you time and space to sort yourself out before you step on.
What happens AT YOUR APPOINTMENT?
Here is exactly what to expect from the moment you arrive. No surprises.
Height Measurement
If this is your first scan, Steve will measure your height using a clinical stadiometer. This only needs to happen once. On follow-up scans, your height is already stored in the system.
Step On
Remove your shoes, socks, and jewellery. Step onto the foot electrodes barefoot. The device will weigh you first. Then pick up the hand electrodes, placing your thumbs on the oval thumb contacts. Stand still, arms slightly away from your body, and the scan runs for approximately 70 seconds. You will not feel a thing.
Your Results
Your multi-page clinical report prints immediately. Steve will sit down with you and walk through every section of your results: what the numbers mean, how they compare to your previous scans (if you’ve had any), and what you can do with the data. This is not a printout-and-go experience. It is a full interpretation and education session.
How Long Does It Take?
Your first appointment takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, including the education session. Follow-up scans take 5 to 15 minutes. The scan itself is just a couple of minutes.
What Can AFFECT RESULTS
The InBody 970 delivers 99% test-retest reproducibility under controlled conditions. But your body is not static. Several factors can shift your readings from scan to scan. Understanding them helps you prepare consistently, but even when conditions are not identical, Steve has the experience and the data to interpret what is real change and what is noise.
HYDRATION
This is one the biggest variables. Your body water makes up the majority of what the InBody 970 measures. Being dehydrated or over-hydrated can shift your lean mass, body fat percentage, and ECW ratio in ways that may not reflect real compositional change.
FOOD AND FLUID
Undigested food and fluid in your stomach and gut adds measurable mass. It also affects water distribution. This is why the 2 to 3 hour fasting window matters.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Hormonal fluctuations cause measurable changes in fluid retention across the cycle. This is completely normal and Steve accounts for it when interpreting your results. Your Body Water report shows exactly where fluid is sitting, so cycle-related shifts are visible and easily distinguished from real compositional change. Never skip or delay a scan because of where you are in your cycle.
RECENT EXERCISE
Training redistributes fluid between compartments and increases blood flow to working muscles. This temporarily changes impedance readings across all segments, particularly the limbs.
TIME OF DAY
Your body water profile shifts throughout the day as gravity pulls fluid into your lower limbs. For the most comparable results between scans, test at a similar time each visit.
THE GOLDEN RULE: CONSISTENCY
Consistent preparation gives you the cleanest comparison between scans. Same time of day, same fasting window, same hydration habits. But life happens. If your preparation was not perfect, scan anyway. Your results are still valuable. Steve reads these reports every day and knows how to account for variables that may have shifted your baseline. A scan in imperfect conditions is always more useful than no scan at all.
Clinical SAFETY and Suitability
The InBody 970 uses safe, low-level alternating electrical currents that are completely imperceptible. There is no radiation of any kind. The device meets IEC 60601-1 international safety standards as a certified medical device. It is safe for the overwhelming majority of people, and there are no age or weight restrictions that would prevent most individuals from scanning.
Implanted Electronic Medical Devices
If you have a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or any other implanted electronic medical device, Get Scanned requires a clearance letter from your treating specialist before we can proceed. This is a precautionary requirement.
Metallic Implants
Joint replacements, plates, screws, pins, rods, stents, and other metallic hardware are completely safe and will not interfere with the scan or pose any risk.
Metallic implants are not electronic devices. They do not interact with the test current in any clinically meaningful way.
If you have metallic hardware anywhere in your body, scan with confidence. The only consideration is that large metallic implants may cause a minor overestimation of lean mass in that segment due to their conductivity, but this effect is consistent across scans, so your trend data remains valid and trackable over time.
Pregnancy
You will see pregnancy listed as a contraindication on most BIA operator websites across the industry. This deserves a direct and honest conversation.
InBody’s own published position does not list pregnancy as a contraindication. Their official FAQ states that the device meets IEC 60601-1 international medical safety standards, that BIA measurement can be taken at any time during pregnancy, and that the final decision should be made by the mother. This position is supported by decades of published research. Lukaski et al. validated BIA as a practical and safe method for measuring body water changes in pregnant and postpartum women as early as 1994. A comprehensive 2021 review confirmed that BIA is non-invasive, reliable, fast, and well tolerated across all three trimesters, with clinical applications spanning gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia monitoring. A 2020 Australian study further demonstrated the reproducibility and clinical utility of BIA during pregnancy.
The contraindication you see elsewhere does not come from the manufacturer. It comes from operators applying a blanket exclusion to avoid perceived liability, without reading InBody’s own position or the published research. It is a legal reflex, not a clinical one.
Get Scanned does not exclude pregnant clients. If you are pregnant and would like to scan, you are welcome to do so. If you would prefer to discuss it with your midwife or obstetrician first, that is entirely your call. We support whatever decision you are comfortable with.
It is worth noting that body composition data during pregnancy has limited comparative value to measurements taken pre or post pregnancy. Your body is in a state of rapid and expected change across every parameter the InBody 970 measures: water, lean mass, fat mass, and segmental distribution. A scan during pregnancy gives you a valid snapshot, but not one you can meaningfully compare to pre-pregnancy or postpartum results. Some clients choose to scan before conception if timing allows, and resume regular scanning once their body has stabilised postpartum, while others love the benefits of monitoring throughout their pregnancy, to maintain personal accountability and motivation, and to continue learning how their bodies change through this incredible and wonderful time!
Preparing for InBody FAQ
What if I forgot to fast before my scan?
Scan anyway. Imperfect conditions are always better than skipping a scan entirely. Let Steve know when you arrive and he will note it on your file. If you are tracking progress over time, the next scan under proper preparation will give you a clean comparison point going forward.
Can I drink water before my scan?
Yes, but minimise it in the 2 to 3 hours before your appointment, alongside food. Normal hydration throughout the day before is ideal. Do not deliberately over-hydrate or dehydrate to try to influence your results.
Can children be scanned?
Yes. The InBody 970 is validated for ages 3 and above. There are no safety concerns for children. The device produces a dedicated Children’s Result Sheet that tracks growth and physical development against standard curves. It is an excellent tool for paediatricians, sports coaches, and parents who want objective data on how their child is developing.
I have breast implants. Will they affect my results?
Breast implants are safe and will not interfere with the scan. They may cause a very minor overestimation of body fat percentage because the implant material adds volume that the device measures as part of your body composition. This effect is small and consistent across scans, so your trend data remains accurate for tracking change over time.
What if I am menstruating?
Scan as normal. Hormonal fluctuations during your cycle can cause temporary shifts in fluid retention, but Steve accounts for this when interpreting your results. The Body Water report makes cycle-related changes clearly visible and easily distinguishable from real compositional change. Never skip or delay a scan because of where you are in your cycle.
How often should I get scanned?
For most people, every 4 to 8 weeks is the sweet spot. This gives your body enough time to produce measurable change from training or nutrition adjustments. More frequent scanning can be useful during intensive programs or medical monitoring. Because there is no radiation, there is no limit on how often you can test.
Do I need a referral or membership at the host venue?
No. All Get Scanned clinics are open to everyone. You do not need a gym membership, a medical referral, or any prior relationship with us. Just book your appointment and show up.
Where can I learn more about the InBody 970 itself?
Visit our About the InBody 970 page for a full breakdown of what the device is, how it works, what it measures, and what makes it different from every other body composition tool on the market.
Preparation for an InBody 970 body composition scan affects the accuracy of results. Get Scanned provides detailed preparation guidelines covering hydration, food intake, exercise timing, clothing and other factors that influence bioelectrical impedance measurements. The InBody 970 measures body composition using electrical currents across eight frequencies, and variables such as hydration status, recent meals, caffeine intake, exercise and bladder volume can affect impedance readings. Following the preparation guidelines ensures the most accurate and repeatable results possible. Get Scanned conducts all InBody 970 scans from the purpose-built Scan-Van across Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria. All scans include a full consultation with Steve Burden.