From Skinfolds to Scanners: The Role of Body Composition in Pilates-Based Client Assessment
As conversations around full-stack wellness continue to gain momentum, many instructors and studio owners are revisiting the question of how, and when, to assess their clients’ physical state. In this context, body composition analysis has re-emerged as a key talking point. Products, such as those from InBody USA, reflect this trend; their portable BIA-based devices have become increasingly popular in gyms and wellness clinics as well as in client homes.
Yet, for those of us who have worked with these tools from their earliest iterations, it is important to reflect on both the potential and the limitations of this form of assessment. At Mbodies, as we prepare to launch in the Autumn a new module on Client Assessment for Pilates Professionals, this is an opportune moment to revisit the question: what role should body composition testing play in the modern Pilates studio?
A Brief Historical Perspective on Body Composition Testing
My own experience with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) dates back to the Human Performance Laboratories at the University of Birmingham during the late 1970s and early 1980s whilst studying for my first and higher degrees in Physical Education and Biomechanics. At that time, we were exploring new ways to estimate body composition using this technology, comparing it to established gold-standard methods such as hydrostatic (water displacement) weighing, skinfold measurements, and even muscle core biopsies.
In controlled laboratory settings: where time of day, hydration status, ambient temperature, recent food intake, and physical activity were all standardised, the correlations between BIA and other methods were often excellent. It was, and remains, a promising technology.
However, we were also acutely aware that the validity of bioimpedance readings in real-world, uncontrolled environments is far more variable. Once the client steps out of the lab and into a fitness studio; bringing with them the influences of caffeine, menstrual cycles, sweat loss, or recent training, the reliability of the measurement decreases significantly.
The Present Landscape: InBody and Pilates Studios
Fast-forward to today, and BIA has become ubiquitous. Devices such as those from InBody are widely used, not only in medical settings, but also in gyms, wellness centres, and even boutique Pilates studios. They offer ease of use, rapid data collection, and a sense of scientific precision that appeals to clients and professionals alike.
To be clear: these tools are not without value, particularly when used to establish trends over time, assuming that testing conditions are consistent and interpretation is handled with care. However, the data should always be contextualised within a broader framework: never presented as absolute truth or used as a standalone justification for programming.
Pilates Client Assessment in a Full-Stack Wellness Model
At Mbodies, we advocate for an integrated, well-informed approach to client assessment, one that reflects the demands of contemporary wellness practice. As the industry moves towards full-stack service delivery, assessment is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but an essential part of providing relevant, safe, and effective programmes.
Our forthcoming Client Assessment Module will guide instructors in understanding the purpose, methods, and appropriate interpretation of a variety of assessment tools. These will include:
Postural screening: identifying compensations, asymmetries, and movement patterns.
Movement quality and mobility assessment: evaluating control, range, and readiness.
Strength baselining: capturing core and limb control without overloading.
Subjective wellbeing metrics: understanding stress, fatigue, and recovery.
Optional body composition measurement: with clear protocols and guidance.
In this context, tools like InBody can play a part: as long as they are placed in the correct clinical and operational framework.
When and Why to Use Body Composition Analysis in Pilates
For Pilates studios and instructors, body composition analysis can add value when used thoughtfully:
Establishing baselines in structured Pilates wellness programmes.
Tracking progress over weeks or months.
Creating an additional layer of motivation for clients seeking measurable outcomes.
However, restraint is equally important:
Without standardised protocols, bioimpedance readings fluctuate significantly.
Overemphasis on numbers may overshadow broader goals like posture, movement, or emotional wellbeing.
Not all instructors are fully trained to interpret results responsibly, which risks undermining client trust.
The message is clear: use these tools as part of a holistic Pilates assessment process, not as standalone diagnostics.
The Role of the Pilates Instructor
As a profession, we have the responsibility to support our clients with evidence-informed practices: not simply to follow trends or technology. Body composition measurement, whether using skinfold callipers, displacement tanks, or bioimpedance scanners, can be part of that toolkit.
However, it should never replace the more nuanced art of observation, interview, and intelligent programme design. Our new Client Assessment Module is designed to support Pilates instructors in building that competence.
We are pleased to include BIA devices from companies such as InBody USA in a broader conversation about how technology, when used responsibly, can support personalised wellness outcomes.
We also are proud to be linked to an upcoming feature on The Best Fitness Apps of 2025 to Support Your Body Transformation Journey, published by MedicalResearch.com : an established medical research platform known for its practitioner-led editorial team and structured interviews with researchers from leading clinical journals.
This collaboration reflects a shared interest in evidence informed practice and professional development. It also offers a chance to further the conversation around diagnostics and tracking within the Pilates and wellness industries.
At Mbodies, we remain committed to equipping instructors and studio owners with the tools and critical thinking required to integrate such technologies appropriately: not as marketing gimmicks, but as part of a wider strategy for intelligent, ethical and client-centred care.
If you are interested in deepening your understanding of how to assess, interpret, and apply client data within a Pilates context, our Client Assessment Module launches this autumn and may provide the ideal next step.