Body Fat Scanners (Do they Error)

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LookN2Lose15
LookN2Lose15 Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
I went for my consultation with a trainer at Gold's Gym yesterday and was "scanned" for body fat %. Get this...READY for this??? I scanned at 37.5% BF and fell into the "OBESE" category! I was floored! This picture that I have on my profile was taken the day before I started this site...do I look "obese" to you? A few extra pounds that need to be replaced by muscle for tone...but OBESE? I'm still fuming LOL~! I was pretty upset and spent the rest of the say sulking and putting too much emphasis on it all day. My concerns: was this "scan" accurate or is it gimmick gyms use to keep you coming back to the gym? I was depressed at one point in my life and pretty much became anorexic. I do not want to go there again. I will try to post a picture from that time to show what I mean by going overboard regarding food.

14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg

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  • LookN2Lose15
    LookN2Lose15 Posts: 21
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    <img>http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/megansmom2/14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg</img&gt;
  • Purple_Orchid_87
    Purple_Orchid_87 Posts: 517 Member
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    14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642

    just changed your IMG to img and still cant see the image :o(

    i dont think you are obese! look at a BMI chart if you want to double check
    or check MFP BMI - clikc tools and then BMI
  • lil_missfit
    lil_missfit Posts: 565 Member
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    I am interested to know what others say:)) I know just what you mean:)) I just went from obese to overweight...but have always wondered the accuracy. Good luck!!
  • LookN2Lose15
    LookN2Lose15 Posts: 21
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    I went for my consultation with a trainer at Gold's Gym yesterday and was "scanned" for body fat %. Get this...READY for this??? I scanned at 37.5% BF and fell into the "OBESE" category! I was floored! This picture that I have on my profile was taken the day before I started this site...do I look "obese" to you? A few extra pounds that need to be replaced by muscle for tone...but OBESE? I'm still fuming LOL~! I was pretty upset and spent the rest of the say sulking and putting too much emphasis on it all day. My concerns: was this "scan" accurate or is it gimmick gyms use to keep you coming back to the gym? I was depressed at one point in my life and pretty much became anorexic. I do not want to go there again. I will try to post a picture from that time to show what I mean by going overboard regarding food.

    <img>http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/megansmom2/14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg</img&gt;
  • lil_missfit
    lil_missfit Posts: 565 Member
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    I went for my consultation with a trainer at Gold's Gym yesterday and was "scanned" for body fat %. Get this...READY for this??? I scanned at 37.5% BF and fell into the "OBESE" category! I was floored! This picture that I have on my profile was taken the day before I started this site...do I look "obese" to you? A few extra pounds that need to be replaced by muscle for tone...but OBESE? I'm still fuming LOL~! I was pretty upset and spent the rest of the say sulking and putting too much emphasis on it all day. My concerns: was this "scan" accurate or is it gimmick gyms use to keep you coming back to the gym? I was depressed at one point in my life and pretty much became anorexic. I do not want to go there again. I will try to post a picture from that time to show what I mean by going overboard regarding food.

    14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg[img][/img]
  • LookN2Lose15
    LookN2Lose15 Posts: 21
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    I can't post the picture of the anorexic me...so I will just post the link
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/megansmom2/14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg
  • Purple_Orchid_87
    Purple_Orchid_87 Posts: 517 Member
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    I can't post the picture of the anorexic me...so I will just post the link
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/megansmom2/14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg
    it says its been moved or deleted
  • lil_missfit
    lil_missfit Posts: 565 Member
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    I tried to help with the pic....sorry:frown:

    Hopefully someone can help you with it.
  • CallejaFairey
    CallejaFairey Posts: 391 Member
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    14998_400319645208_523420208_3786642_6799270_n.jpg

    there you go.
    and i wouldn't worry too much about that scan, specially as you are working on gaining muscle. numbers are just numbers, it's how you feel and how you think you look. and i personally think you look great in your profile pic, way better than the pic i posted for you. good on you for overcoming it and working on being helthy :)
  • fitterpam
    fitterpam Posts: 3,086 Member
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    As far as I was aware, obese is a measure of BMI, not body fat %. They can error, but usually not by that much - I would do it again if I were you. Was the trainer not sceptical?
  • flash53
    flash53 Posts: 46 Member
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    Judging by your pic you look normal to me. I think it has to be inaccurate. To my knowledge most of them are in the ballpark as far as accuracy. The one that is the most accurate is the one you get dipped in the water and they calculate the amount of water that is displaced. It probably reads that way because you my not have much muscle mass on your body which can be a little misleading. My sister has the same problem she had a gastric bypass and lost about 125lbs.She looks normal for her size and it said she was at 35% but she has no muscle mass on her. I wouldn't worry to much about it. You came a long way I would just try to get more muscle on you and that should change the number over the next year.
  • mike_littlerock
    mike_littlerock Posts: 296 Member
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    I have been looking into body composition tests, and depending on the method, they can give you varied results in terms of accuracy. I just had a DEXA scan at a local hospital and while I did not "like" the number, i know that particular test is about .8% plus/minus accurate, versus the normal quoted numbers of about 4% for calipers. the reading that I have done indicates the problem with calipers is that the person taking the measurements needs to be properly trained, and even with a trained person it is still inaccurate. In addition, there are MANY formula's that can be used to calculate the body fat percentage once the measurements are taken.
    I saw your pic and you dont look obese to me, but then again based on my height, etc.. the World health org classification says I need to be under 200lbs to be "normal" and I know that I get very skinny at that weight. I feel those generic guidelines are just a basic rule of thumb, and we need to look at the person, their level of fitness, muscle mass, frame, etc. I say the important thing is how you feel, your overall health, and how you look in the mirror and to friends. I know that when I was young that I thought i looked great, but would have friends tell me I was too lean and I now think they were right (compulsive runner)

    BTW. "thin" does not necessarily mean low body-fat. there are ample studies that show that anorexic's that might only be 80lbs, are clinically obese because of the extreme diet forcing the body to keep any fat reserves it can.
  • LookN2Lose15
    LookN2Lose15 Posts: 21
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    Thank ALL for the support! Especially for figuring out how to post that picture. It kicked MY butt! :~)

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