Body Fat Percentages Fluctuating?

fShaw86

At the gym, on those scale thingies (those bio electric whatnot stuff), I was at 32.4% body fat. On the body fat % calculators, I'm 25.7%. I'm 5'1", and 122 lbs.

I don't have access to calipers, so that's kind of out of the question at the moment. What would be a more accurate body fat % measurement?

rosebarnalice

I would think that the bioelectric thingies will be better than the on-line calculators because the thingy is an actual measurement device while the calculator is based on some broad assumptions of height and weight relationships.

CharityGC

I'm not sure how accurate the online calculators are. I found a site yesterday that would give you four different percentages from four different online calculators. My percentages were -2%, 18%, 30%, and 50%. It was actually pretty funny.

JenMc14

The bioimpedance scale things aren't the most accurate. Heck I'm not sure calipers are always accurate, my friend who's a trainer did mine, and gave me 13.7% 9at my thinnest, 117 pounds at 5'4"), and there is Just. No. Way. She didn't even take a measurement off my middle! My at home scale puts me around 27%, an most online calculators do as well, so I figure I'm maybe right around there. But, I would think the bioimpedance measurement would be more accurate than the online calculator if they're that far apart. You may actually be somewhere in the middle. Google "Body fat percentage images" or something like that, and a few sites with confirmed bf% pictures will pop up and you can compare yourself, and add that in to the mix to get a better idea.

fShaw86

Thanks guys!

rosebarnalice- yep, I'll stick to the thingy's reading, even though it's higher, lol
CharityGC- Wow that disparity among the calculations you took is pretty insane! -2%, is like what, dead?!
JenMc14- I think I'll Google those images!

MissMormie

Some problems with the scale are:
1. It really depends on your fluids. If I need to go to the toilet that can easily have a 2% difference in 'bodyfat'. So water retention will also have a big difference
2. The current only runs through your legs. So if you're top heavy it'll give a too low reading, if you're bottom heavy it'll be too high.

fShaw86

Some problems with the scale are:
1. It really depends on your fluids. If I need to go to the toilet that can easily have a 2% difference in 'bodyfat'. So water retention will also have a big difference
2. The current only runs through your legs. So if you're top heavy it'll give a too low reading, if you're bottom heavy it'll be too high.

Wow I never knew it just goes through your legs alone! I'm top AND bottom heavy!!! No fat on my arms, thighs, or stomach (even though I'm a mom lol).