Body Fat Scales

NewMeSM75

I have a friend on MFP who purchased a scale that measures weight, body fat, water and bone density.

I know these aren't completely accurate.

But are they worth the investment?

runner475

I had this same question. In the market right now to buy new scale.

McCloud33

I think they can be good for tracking, but they're not all completely accurate. If you have a DEXA or Hydrostatic body fat analysis done at the beginning and you can sync your scale with those results, you'll probably have the best results. The measurements will vary depending on your hydration level, so it's important to weigh yourself at the same time of the day and such.

I use mine to keep track of weight, BF% and muscle mass %. It give water and bone too, but those don't really change much for me.

Here's the one that I use amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Capacity-Recognition-Technology/dp/B004L6NTHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422556519&sr=8-1&keywords=body+fat+scale&pebp=1422556522524&peasin=B004L6NTHU

$50 on Amazon

jim180155

A good bioimpedance scale will give you a rough idea of your bodyfat percentage. They are probably the most convenient measuring device. If you don't mind paying $50 or more, it's not a bad idea.

Another option is bodyfat calipers. Although not entirely accurate, they'll give more accurate and consistent results than a bioimpedance scale. They're relatively quick and easy to use. The best part is the price: about $6 on Amazon.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

No. Mine tells me I am at 36% body fat. I am closer to 25%.

amyoliver85

You can get the same results of most $100 body fat scales using a handheld Omron that you can buy at Walmart for $20. MrCloud33 has written the most accurate information about these scales, which is that they're not accurate. Hydrostatic testing in most places is also not very accurate, but it is considered the military gold standard.

I would suggest, truthfully, that you have a DEXA done just like above. It's very eye-opening. But more important is to get whichever of these products you feel comfortable with, then add the information lines to your MFP tracking and just watch yourself and your progress.

I have both a high-end, about $200 scale that tracks weight, BF%, BMI, bone, and water, and an Omron. My scale keeps track over time so I can go back 5 weigh-ins when I check in as myself and see my progress according to the scale. So I use it for that and then I also weekly weigh-in without the tracking assistance. But guess what? The Omron knows what the scale knows and is rarely more than 0.1% off from what the scale says on body fat and is almost always spot on to the BMI. The only reason I have the scale is to track water retention so I can properly hydrate myself.

I would also like to mention that my scale came with some interesting reading material. It has check-in tracking for up to 4 people and it mentioned that scales that don't have this advantage should not be used by more than one person because these scales tend to calibrate themselves based on you personally. If 3 people are using your scale, you might never get an accurate read.

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runner475

BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »

No. Mine tells me I am at 36% body fat. I am closer to 25%.

So what suggested you are @ 25% BF? I cannot use calipers.

EDTA: I cannot use calipers because I do not know how to use them and someone suggested to get correct results one has to be familiar with it.

jim180155

Calipers are not accurate (or less accurate) for obese people. I should have mentioned that before.

NewMeSM75

Thanks everyone !

FitFitzy331

McCloud33 wrote: »

I think they can be good for tracking, but they're not all completely accurate. If you have a DEXA or Hydrostatic body fat analysis done at the beginning and you can sync your scale with those results, you'll probably have the best results. The measurements will vary depending on your hydration level, so it's important to weigh yourself at the same time of the day and such.

I use mine to keep track of weight, BF% and muscle mass %. It give water and bone too, but those don't really change much for me.

Here's the one that I use amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Capacity-Recognition-Technology/dp/B004L6NTHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422556519&sr=8-1&keywords=body+fat+scale&pebp=1422556522524&peasin=B004L6NTHU

$50 on Amazon

I use this one too but I also have calipers to check. Unfortunately I can't find a place near me to get an actual body fat analysis done so the best I can do to estimate it. I've been tracking it since last July and though its not completely accurate, I think its good for an estimate of progress.

You can also look at this and take a guess at what range you fall in compared to the people shown. http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

McCloud33

Here are the results that I got when I was entering my info from the scale last year when I dropped 35lbs+ and 10+%BF. Again, there are variances from day to day, but the trend line is what you're looking for.

McCloud33

And if you think that yours needs to be adjusted, the easiest thing is to program it with a different height for yourself. I've done caliper testing and tape measurements and the scale has me being 1-2% higher if I use my actual 5'-8" height, so I just changed it to 5'-10.5" in the set-up so that it's reading closer to what I think it is.

NewMeSM75

Thanks again.

runner475

Thanks everyone. I'm ordering EatSmart off Amazon.
Truly Appreciated.

Thanks OP for posting this question.

jim180155

The EatSmart measures bodyfat?

McCloud33

@jim180155‌ yes, it measures body fat % through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). As has been stated earlier in the post, not necessarily the most accurate, but in my experience is at least consistent when used correctly.

goddessofawesome

It's ok if you're just looking to keep track of your trend. I know that mine is off BF% wise as it will fluctuate in a huge way depending on time of day I weigh myself and how hydrated I am (I have tested it and it fluctuates 5%). As far as the calipers go: those aren't accurate either. The percentage of your BF will fluctuate depending on how old you are. There is a chart that you consult and it's based on age. I used to get my BF done with the calipers and I would watch them calculate it and for someone that was a year or two younger than me for the exact same measurements their body fat was quite lower. Which makes no sense. Why should my AGE determine how much my body fat is? After that I stopped having it done and went on my measurements instead. Would I like to know how much BF I have? Sure but until I can find some place that can give me close to 100% accuracy I won't be too concerned.

goddessofawesome

McCloud33 wrote: »

@jim180155‌ yes, it measures body fat % through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). As has been stated earlier in the post, not necessarily the most accurate, but in my experience is at least consistent when used correctly.

But how is changing your height "using it correctly"? I bet if you changed your age -- made yourself younger -- the BF% would be different as well.

McCloud33

@goddessofawesome‌ by "using it correctly" I was referring to using it at the right time of day, consistently, in the same routine. Like you said, the number will change (5% seems like a lot to me) depending on the time of day. For me I usually only have a banana and a couple cups of water for breakfast and my "consistent" time of the day is right before I eat lunch.

All of the BIA scales (and even hydrostatic and bod pod) use equations to figure this stuff out, so by changing any of the input variables, you change the output. So yes, changing your age would probably work too, or your gender. My point was just to get the scale to match the other methods of measurement (tape measure, calipers) so that they were all relative to each other if that makes sense.

goddessofawesome

McCloud33 wrote: »

@goddessofawesome‌ by "using it correctly" I was referring to using it at the right time of day, consistently, in the same routine. Like you said, the number will change (5% seems like a lot to me) depending on the time of day. For me I usually only have a banana and a couple cups of water for breakfast and my "consistent" time of the day is right before I eat lunch.

All of the BIA scales (and even hydrostatic and bod pod) use equations to figure this stuff out, so by changing any of the input variables, you change the output. So yes, changing your age would probably work too, or your gender. My point was just to get the scale to match the other methods of measurement (tape measure, calipers) so that they were all relative to each other if that makes sense.

Ahhh. I gotcha now.

jim180155

goddessofawesome wrote: »

It's ok if you're just looking to keep track of your trend. I know that mine is off BF% wise as it will fluctuate in a huge way depending on time of day I weigh myself and how hydrated I am (I have tested it and it fluctuates 5%). As far as the calipers go: those aren't accurate either. The percentage of your BF will fluctuate depending on how old you are. There is a chart that you consult and it's based on age. I used to get my BF done with the calipers and I would watch them calculate it and for someone that was a year or two younger than me for the exact same measurements their body fat was quite lower. Which makes no sense. Why should my AGE determine how much my body fat is? After that I stopped having it done and went on my measurements instead. Would I like to know how much BF I have? Sure but until I can find some place that can give me close to 100% accuracy I won't be too concerned.

I think the reason is that your skin and underlying tissue gets thinner as you age. I had a birthday two weeks ago and my bodyfat suprailiac calculation went up by 0.2% overnight even though the measurement had not changed from 6mm. If I was 20 years old, that 6mm would mean that I'm 8% bodyfat. (I think. I'm going from memory.) But at 61 yrs old, that 6mm puts me at 14.7%. It doesn't seem fair.

Still, the calculations are based on averages from the general population. Just because I'd like the calipers to tell me that I'm 8% bodyfat at 6mm does not mean that the calculations are wrong.

subversive99

I use an omron (this one ) handheld one at the same time as my weekly weigh in every Saturday morning before I eat. It provides good enough trends for my purpose. When I get close to my goal I may look at having the DEXA testing done.

jim180155

I just saw something else that puts the apparent unfairness of the relationship between bodyfat and age. While a lot of the calculators consider you fatter than someone younger with the same measurements, the chart on this page works in our favor. According to the chart toward the bottom of the page linked below, I'm in better than excellent shape. (The lowest they go for 60+ yrs old is 20.3%. I'm about 14%.) If a 20 year old is 20.3% bodyfat he's considered to be in fair to poor shape.

Finally. Justice.

changingshape.com/calculators/body-fat/

deviiv

I bought a hanson one off amazon and it gives me a reading 10% higher than when I was measured by calipers.

I'm using it as a cheap tool to track daily progress until I can be bothered getting a proper body fat reading