While I was home during Fall Break, I had the great pleasure of reuniting with my beloved local YMCA. A new membership perk was added while I was at school this past semester: every three months, members have access to an “In-Body Scan Treatment” and a quick consultation with their allied consultants. The InBody device resembles a typical bathroom scale, bearing two handles and a digital screen, but offers much more than a simple weight analysis. The InBody scanner releases a full printout showing the user their muscle mass, body fat, hydration levels, recovery potential at the cellular level, symmetry and overall body composition. It takes merely 30-to-45 seconds, but the insight it provides is worth hours of “guess-timating.” Having completed this comprehensive test, I believe that Villanova’s Fitness Center can greatly benefit from adopting this same technology, offering it as a free service to students every few months.
Most college students who go to the gym focus on one extremely malleable number: their weight. This number is often judged without much nuance as either too high or too low, without accurate analysis of what’s water, what’s muscle, and what is actual fat. The InBody scan breaks that number down into these relevant components for you, which makes all the difference in assessing one’s physical data. When I did my first scan at the YMCA, I learned that even though my weight was higher than I expected, my body fat was low and my muscle mass was high. It helps turn vague fitness goals into specific ones, such as the tangible goals of maintaining muscle, lowering fat by a few percentage points and improving hydration balance (things that actually reflect real progress). If Villanova installed the InBody system, students could measure their health in a way that’s personal and precise, instead of chasing arbitrary numbers or ideals. It would also give the university’s trainers and wellness staff the chance to offer individualized feedback, turning general advice into science-backed recommendations.
One of the best parts about the InBody test is that it’s for all people, not just athletes or even gym regulars. Whether someone is recovering from injury, trying to build strength, or simply curious about their wellness, the scan provides a starting point that’s completely objective and grades one’s overall body analysis on a scientific scale of one to 100. For students who might feel intimidated by fitness culture or unsure where to begin, the printout gives them a baseline and an extremely tangible way to track improvement over time.
One of the biggest challenges in maintaining an active lifestyle is staying motivated when progress feels slow. The InBody scan solves that. Instead of waiting to see results in the mirror, students can see data-based proof of their effort: a higher muscle score, a lower visceral fat level, or an improved phase angle (a measure of cellular health and recovery).
At the YMCA, the scan is part of the standard membership, making it free, accessible and encouraged every 90 days to its members. The same model could easily work at Villanova, with the service offering one complimentary scan per semester, allowing students to monitor their progress across the school year without any added cost.
InBody devices are surprisingly affordable when compared to the long-term value they provide. Many gyms (such as the YMCA branch facilities) offer the service at no extra cost because it attracts and retains members. Villanova could do the same by integrating it into the Fitness Center, allowing students access to professional-level wellness tracking without needing to outsource it to expensive health clubs or personal trainers.
Personally, getting my 90-day report was like checking my grades in a class I actually enjoyed. It kept me accountable but proud of the work I’d done. Imagine if every Villanova student could feel that same sense of progress, with results that recognize both physical and mental effort. If Villanova wants to continue leading in student health and wellness, adding the InBody system to the Fitness Center is a simple but meaningful step. It’s not just another machine, but a tool meant to help students understand their bodies, appreciate their strength, and track their progress responsibly.
