THE STORY BEHIND BODY IQ
Jack O’Connor, founder and owner of BODY IQ, spent years working in his family’s blood-testing practice, Bloodworks. People came in because they wanted to understand more about their health — and blood tests could help them explore important markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar and HbA1c, iron and ferritin, indicators of anaemia, thyroid function, liver and kidney function, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels, and, where relevant, hormones and inflammation.
But Jack kept hearing another kind of question:
Blood tests are valuable, but they are not designed to tell someone their body-fat percentage, estimated fat mass, muscle mass or how their weight is changing in response to training. And a bathroom scale gives only one number. Someone can lose body fat, gain muscle and see very little change in their overall weight.
Jack wanted people to see a clearer picture: body weight, body-fat percentage and fat mass, estimated muscle mass and fat-free mass, body water, BMI and basal metabolic rate. With a suitable segmental analyser, results can also show estimated fat and muscle across the arms, legs and torso. These are estimates to inform progress — not diagnoses or a substitute for blood tests.
Jack began offering body-composition testing to people who wanted more insight into the work they were already doing. For some, the first scan challenged their assumptions about weight. For others, it gave them a starting point to set practical goals around training, nutrition and body composition.
When people came back, Jack could see the value of having something to compare. Instead of judging progress by the scales alone, they could look at trends and talk about the choices behind them. Some reported feeling more motivated, more energetic and happier with their progress. What surprised Jack was not one dramatic number; it was how useful clear information could be in helping people stay engaged with their goals.
That experience led Jack to create BODY IQ and take the service beyond the family practice. His aim is simple: make professionally operated body-composition testing available to gyms, personal-training studios and sports clubs across Ireland, without asking each facility to buy and manage specialist equipment.
BODY IQ brings the equipment and an operator to the venue, guides members through their assessment and explains the results in everyday language. Members get a clearer baseline anda way to review change over time. Gym owners get an additional experience they can offer, and trainers have another useful starting point for conversations about realistic goals.
A scan won’t do the training for you, and no single figure tells the whole story. But when you understand where you’re starting, set a goal and measure progress consistently, the work has more meaning. That’s why Jack built BODY IQ.
BODY IQ brings professional body-composition testing to gyms and sports clubs. Know your body. See your progress.
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