Body Fat Measurement machine - how accurate?

katmumn

At work, they are having everyone complete a health risk assessment. We had to stand on a machine that looks kind of like a scale barefoot, and hold onto 2 handles while keeping our arms out. I'm just wondering how accurate these sorts of machines are?

And what is a realistic bodyfat % for a woman over 40? I'm trying to set a target for myself by next year.

I'm currently 5'3", 140 lbs and I'll turn 43 next week.

SergeiKay

resistance based body fat meters are terribly inaccurate.
the only possible use i can see for them is the delta, the change, the variation from measurement to measurement. using the value that it spits out as absolute measurement is a bad idea, IMHO.

DopeItUp

They'll get you in the ballpark but they are heavily dependent on hydration levels and thus can vary quite a bit. If you took the test at a consistent time of day (say, mornings), the results would presumably be fairly consistent. The tests I have taken usually are in the ballpark of 2-3%.

Healthy range for your age is probably 20-30%, 35% tops. Obviously the lower end is more towards the athletic scale.

moustache_flavored_lube

The margin of error is about 2%-3% about as accurate as calipers, not as accurate as dexa or water displacement

katmumn

They'll get you in the ballpark but they are heavily dependent on hydration levels and thus can vary quite a bit. If you took the test at a consistent time of day (say, mornings), the results would presumably be fairly consistent. The tests I have taken usually are in the ballpark of 2-3%.

Healthy range for your age is probably 20-30%, 35% tops. Obviously the lower end is more towards the athletic scale.

I didn't have anything to drink as we also had to fast for the bloodwork. Would this make it more or less accurate?