Whats up with my Body fat % ????

candy1092
candy1092 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
I am 5’4 and I bought a scale that measures body fat and muscle, I currently weigh 138 I use to weigh 128 but I am toning and getting way more muscle now and it told me I had 34% body fat???? And 48% water and 48% muscle. I want to understand this and use this scale but I just don’t seem to understand, Should I ditch the scale or get another one, I want to stay informed about my body and health!

Replies

  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    I don't think a scale can measure fat... don't you need calipers?
    Someone else probably knows better than I.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    Those scales are highly unreliable for bf water etc, just ditch them entirely.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I agree. The weight is usually reasonably accurate. But the body fat measurement is a joke. You could measure, drink two glasses of water and measure again and it would probably give you a different body fat %
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Just forget about measuring body fat on a scale or by using any of the electrical impedance devices. You can use it to track a trend, but to get an actual number? No.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    They are not accurate. You can watch it and look for downward trends, but there are many variables that affect this number.

    Calipers used by someone who knows what they are doing is a more accurate method. But the most accurate is hydrostatic weighing or dexa scan, which you have to pay for and go to a lab or sports center that has one.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Yup, those scales are horrible. You can get a slightly more accurate reading if you weigh after fasting (no food or water) for at least 4 hours but there's still going to be a degree of inaccuracy. Calipers are supposed to be a bit better but you have to know how to use them and it's tough to measure yourself. I think those Dexa scans are best? Someone who knows more than me could probably comment on that...

    While it's kind of hard to see your bod in that pic due to the flash, from what I can tell, I'd doubt you're above 30% body fat.
  • JGonzo82
    JGonzo82 Posts: 167 Member
    I have scales that do the same thing - tell weight, bodyfat %, & water %. I have found the actual weight to be VERY accurate...the bodyfat & water though are ridiculously off (according to the scale, at my LEANEST I was > 26% bf) so as far as I'm concerned, ignore those numbers completely.
  • candy1092
    candy1092 Posts: 8
    thank you everyone for the tips !! I figured that was a little off

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