question about body fat scales

pobalita
pobalita Posts: 741 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I picked up a scale that also measures body fat this weekend from a thrift store. The weight seems accurate and matches my old scale, but I was shocked to see the estimate for body fat - it is 10-15% higher than the values I've been getting with calipers and with online calculations based on body measurements. There was no manual with the scale and I can't find one online. I've read that the body fat readings on these kinds of scales can be inaccurate and noticed that the percentage varied within 5% when I stepped on it at different times. Does any one has any tips on how to get the most accurate reading out of the scale?

I'm not so hung up on knowing my true body fat percentage that I'm willing to go out and get any of the more sophisticated tests. I just want to use the scale as a simpler way to monitor than the calipers or calculations and was just hoping the numbers would be closer between all three methods.

Replies

  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Think of it as a scale that can be off by 10-15 lbs, up or down, depending on time of day, temperature, hydration levels, and where you store fat on your body. Would you use that scale? I hope not. It's a just a gimmick.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I wouldn't take one if it was free.
  • GertrudeHorse
    GertrudeHorse Posts: 646 Member
    I made the same mistake of getting these body fat scales. They're horrendously inaccurate and largely reflect how hydrated you are at any given point. Callipers are much more accurate. DEXA scans are more accurate again.
  • jstout365
    jstout365 Posts: 1,686 Member
    I am an odd ball in that my BF% scale isn't too far off of my measurements and visual estimates. I don't consider it ground truth, but I've had reasonable luck with being consistent as far as when I take the reading. Lots of things can influence the reading and I use it more as a trend tracker.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Did your BF scale have you enter age, gender, height?

    Mine did, and it's been very close to the values obtained by calipers and visual estimates.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    I entered age, height, gender, and fitness level.

    Based on replies, I think I'll use it a few more days and if I can get consistent readings just use it for tracking trends.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    If you're getting readings that are bizarrely different I would suspect it's not working well. I get slightly different readings at different times of day but they are within 2% of each other. Thus I figure it's good for tracking trends. I bought my scale new though, it was about $40 on amazon.com.

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