bodyfat measurement options

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kensky
kensky Posts: 472 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
The rec. center where I work out has two options for "body composition assessment". They are both reasonably affordable. The first is what they call direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance method. This is fifteen dollars. The second is good ol' caliper testing for five bucks. When I googled bioelectrical impedance method, I got two things: The website for the manufacturer of this machine and critiques of the machine. Would I be better off saving ten bucks and getting caliper'ed?

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  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
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    The geek in me says to do both and compare the #'s. That said, I see it claimed all the time that caliper-measuring, by a skilled technician, yields extremely accurate results.
  • Newfiedan
    Newfiedan Posts: 1,517 Member
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    caliper its more accurate and reliable the other one has to many variables to be accurate.
  • Rocki_
    Rocki_ Posts: 166 Member
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    I would agree that calipers are accurate...but only as accurate as the person weilding them!! I think I would go for both and compare, were I you.

    Cheers!:smile:
  • Shawnalee0703
    Shawnalee0703 Posts: 1,093
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    I am with taso... do both! :-D I personally get extremely inaccurate caliper results! haha but that is all do to my skin thing... Lots of fun, not! Anyhow, Go for both- and then for the even more accurate, hunt down a submersion tank! :-D
  • kensky
    kensky Posts: 472 Member
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    Ooh. I'm so tempted to do both and compare, taso! And then report back! Hah! Well, I might need to check in and see if the two schedules mesh well (child care juggling...sigh). I really am tempted.

    Rocki, I'm inclined to think that the folks at my place might not bung up the job. I like that where I go isn't a gym so much as a very well funded community/wellness center so it might not be just somebody they pull from the receptionist desk to pinch away at me.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
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    Caliper! The scale is not accurate when if you are dehydrated, have already worked out, time of day, what you ate the day before, etc etc. I'm at 27% on the scale and 24% on the calipers. I've had several different people use the calipers at different dr offices and the answer is always the same. If I step on the scale it can go from 29-25% within 2 hours time.
  • Shawnalee0703
    Shawnalee0703 Posts: 1,093
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    Caliper! The scale is not accurate when if you are dehydrated, have already worked out, time of day, what you ate the day before, etc etc. I'm at 27% on the scale and 24% on the calipers. I've had several different people use the calipers at different dr offices and the answer is always the same. If I step on the scale it can go from 29-25% within 2 hours time.
    I think the OP is refering to the hand help device... it measures slightly differently than the scale (on the scale i am 33% but with the handheld I am under 30% haha). but you are correct that method does have a lot of variables that can change the results. Definately! Unfortunately I have no method! lol
  • kensky
    kensky Posts: 472 Member
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    Yes, my guess is that it's not a scale. Here is the write up:
    INBOdY 230
    Body Composition analyzer of direct segmental multi-frequency
    bioelectrical impedance method. Measures weight, total body
    water, intracellular & extracellular water, lean body mass, dry lean
    mass, body fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, BMI, percent body
    fat, segmental lean mass (right & left arm, trunk, and right & left
    leg), fat control, lbm control, and basal metabolic rate.
    Customized user information sheets are printed for an easy understanding of your results.

    And when rereading the blurb I saw that this was only 5 dollars on the first Tuesday of every month. So now I think I really will do both! I wonder how long each process takes.

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