Bodyfat scales
callumwalker1995
Posts: 389 Member
I bought some tanita scales to measure my bodyfat and I have to actually put in 5cm less than my actual height to give me a reading which at 172cm puts me at 5.2%. At my actual height of 177cm the scales come up as "ErrL" which looking at the key means low bodyfat and it can't give me a reading. Why is this the case? Is it because my bodyfat is too low to give it an actual reading at my height?
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if your at 5.2 % BF you would have to eat every hour practically. I believe it is said the hand held tool is better for getting at least close to actual BF electronically. The step on scales are not so great for BF calculation.0
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Yes. BIA fails to be accurate at low bf %, according to various sources it's losing accuracy below 12-15%. BIA, however is not that accurate to begin with: from tanita's website:
"Independent research at several major universities (including Columbia University in New York City) has confirmed that in clinical settings , the Tanita Body Fat Monitor is accurate within +/- 5 percentage of the institutional standard of body composition analysis--Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)."0 -
Its because body fat scales are about as reliable as me guessing your body fat based on a photo.1
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »
How many times have they gone on them...BF readings on bio impedence vary with the wind ....hydration, dirt on soles of feet etc
What "hospital scanner"? Was it 4 compartment? Was it MRI, DEXA, BodPod or Bio-impedence
I think you have to just accept that bio impedence is the worst of the bunch with a massive error margin0 -
It was an MRI0
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They got lucky then.
Not sure what you want to hear.0 -
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »
How many times have they gone on them...BF readings on bio impedence vary with the wind ....hydration, dirt on soles of feet etc
What "hospital scanner"? Was it 4 compartment? Was it MRI, DEXA, BodPod or Bio-impedence
I think you have to just accept that bio impedence is the worst of the bunch with a massive error margin
The hospital scanner was an MRI. Mine is bio impedence, I cleaned my feet beforehand and used it inside so tried limiting the things that could have caused an error
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »callumwalker1995 wrote: »
How many times have they gone on them...BF readings on bio impedence vary with the wind ....hydration, dirt on soles of feet etc
What "hospital scanner"? Was it 4 compartment? Was it MRI, DEXA, BodPod or Bio-impedence
I think you have to just accept that bio impedence is the worst of the bunch with a massive error margin
The hospital scanner was an MRI. Mine is bio impedence, I cleaned my feet beforehand and used it inside so tried limiting the things that could have caused an error
It's up to you if we can't convince you but bio impedence has a margin of error up to 13%
It is clearly not an appropriate route for you
I'd take the scales back personally
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Was wondering the same but didn't want to go that route.0 -
They were sent by work, as all employees were sent to see if sitting in a chair all day (they have desk jobs) affect their bodyfat, bone densities etc.0
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »callumwalker1995 wrote: »
How many times have they gone on them...BF readings on bio impedence vary with the wind ....hydration, dirt on soles of feet etc
What "hospital scanner"? Was it 4 compartment? Was it MRI, DEXA, BodPod or Bio-impedence
I think you have to just accept that bio impedence is the worst of the bunch with a massive error margin
The hospital scanner was an MRI. Mine is bio impedence, I cleaned my feet beforehand and used it inside so tried limiting the things that could have caused an error
It's up to you if we can't convince you but bio impedence has a margin of error up to 13%
It is clearly not an appropriate route for you
I'd take the scales back personally
Why is it not appropriate?0 -
callumwalker1995 wrote: »callumwalker1995 wrote: »callumwalker1995 wrote: »
How many times have they gone on them...BF readings on bio impedence vary with the wind ....hydration, dirt on soles of feet etc
What "hospital scanner"? Was it 4 compartment? Was it MRI, DEXA, BodPod or Bio-impedence
I think you have to just accept that bio impedence is the worst of the bunch with a massive error margin
The hospital scanner was an MRI. Mine is bio impedence, I cleaned my feet beforehand and used it inside so tried limiting the things that could have caused an error
It's up to you if we can't convince you but bio impedence has a margin of error up to 13%
It is clearly not an appropriate route for you
I'd take the scales back personally
Why is it not appropriate?
Because your OP? If you have to lie to it to get it to spit out an inaccurate number, what's the point?
Or are you wanting to hear that "Yes, you are 5%"?1 -
bod pod is about the most reliable from what I read previously, but who has access to that technology on the regular?
I figure as long as you feel okay and aren't hungry every hour or two you're good , but than again im not sure of the goal of the thread. Ig you're constantly hungry time to up your fat some. I was 8-9% a few years back and I was constantly eating or else I felt like I was weak and sleepy all the time. That level wasn't conducive for me.0 -
callumwalker1995 wrote: »They were sent by work, as all employees were sent to see if sitting in a chair all day (they have desk jobs) affect their bodyfat, bone densities etc.
Damn, that company must have lots of extra dough. MRIs aren't cheap.1 -
bod pod is about the most reliable from what I read previously, but who has access to that technology on the regular?
I figure as long as you feel okay and aren't hungry every hour or two you're good , but than again im not sure of the goal of the thread. Ig you're constantly hungry time to up your fat some. I was 8-9% a few years back and I was constantly eating or else I felt like I was weak and sleepy all the time. That level wasn't conducive for me.
Yes I'm constantly hungry, I have a high metabolism anyway but have a high TDEE and exercise regularly and heavily0 -
LOL I threw my bodyfat scale out, it was ridiculously inaccurate. It would tell me I was something like 50% bodyfat when I was already lean and had a 6 pack etc. Mirror and regular scale is good enough IMO.1
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »bod pod is about the most reliable from what I read previously, but who has access to that technology on the regular?
I figure as long as you feel okay and aren't hungry every hour or two you're good , but than again im not sure of the goal of the thread. Ig you're constantly hungry time to up your fat some. I was 8-9% a few years back and I was constantly eating or else I felt like I was weak and sleepy all the time. That level wasn't conducive for me.
Yes I'm constantly hungry, I have a high metabolism anyway but have a high TDEE and exercise regularly and heavily
you have a high metabolism because you have a high activity level ....
there is no such thing as a "fast metabolism"....cut back your workouts and your metabolism will slow down...0 -
my bf scale is way too moody to give any consistent reading! you step it on it one way, you get a reading, change the positioning of your feet and different reading, turn it off and on again and yet another reading.
seems it gives the lowest reading at the end of the day, and the highest in the morning! I was confused about the reasoning, but once I saw how inaccurate and inconsistent it is, just decided not to give another thought!0 -
Lol I checked mine with a hand held at the gym and the trainer was standing nearby. It said 22 percent he said there was no way . You could see my abs (not defined as I would like) and I weighed 172 at 5' 8.5" (yes I claim my half inch) . He checked his own and it said 7percent..I looked at him and said no way as that's show ready and he was nowhere near show ready . I don't trust them ...any of them1
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my bf scale is way too moody to give any consistent reading! you step it on it one way, you get a reading, change the positioning of your feet and different reading, turn it off and on again and yet another reading.
seems it gives the lowest reading at the end of the day, and the highest in the morning! I was confused about the reasoning, but once I saw how inaccurate and inconsistent it is, just decided not to give another thought!
It's all about hydration levels. Morning you've been asleep and gradually dehydrating over 8 hours. Plus I think the water in your body is not as evenly distributed. Hence why you see a difference after a sweat dripping workout as well. I get more consistent readings (consistent, not necessarily accurate) in the morning if I wait til after 5 or 10 min of moving around the house before weigh in.1 -
it brings up error too low body fat at my height whenever I step on them so I actually have to put myself at 7cm smaller just so it gives me a reading. It's been consistent with my mum and sister though their weights have only fluctuated ~3lbs over the course of two weeks0
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Not chucked it out yet then?
H'ok0 -
it works for the rest of my family, my bodyfat is too low for it to read0
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callumwalker1995 wrote: »it works for the rest of my family, my bodyfat is too low for it to read
There are worse problems in life to have
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Lol0
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LOLrichardgavel wrote: »callumwalker1995 wrote: »it works for the rest of my family, my bodyfat is too low for it to read
There are worse problems in life to have0
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