I’ve seen a post on here awhile back about body fat scales, namely Tanitia. (I can’t remember the correct spelling). Anyway, I realize that there are a few models available. Could someone recommend one that works good ? if they even work any good at all ??
This one is all yours, buddy…
It’s ‘Tanita’. Just run a search. Lots of info. Mostly negative.
Anyone noticed that in the winter when the skin is cold the Tanitas register a higher bf % or it’s just me?
Thank you
cpr- I do agree somewhat, but it depends more on the temperature of your skin. If you set the scale up in a warm area of your house that will help a lot. Also, if you take the measurement after a shower when you are completely dry, you will get more consistent results.
PODGE - There are several good posts that you can find the information. I have a Tanita 551 which measure body fat to the nearest 0.1% and weight to the nearest 0.2lbs. It has 4 slots to remember settings for 4 different people. I’m still experimenting with the machine, but can say that it will do the trick for most people although I think that using skinfold calipers and a site like Bodyfat Calculators push page is better in the long run. Mufasa has had better experience with his Omron bioelectrical body fat analyzer which is a device I have not used. My advice would be to read the posts entitled “Why you don’t like your body comp numbers”, “Jason N.: More On Impedence Devices” and “Mufasa - How’s the Bioelectrical Scale Working” If you have any trouble finding those posts, let me know and I can bump them up. The first post gets more into the science behind body composition measurement. The last two primarily deal with bioelectrical impedance scales.
THANKS JASON !.. i’ll be checking those out
Mirrors are cheap and they don’t lie.
yep. mirrors don’t lie. but they don’t tell the whole truth.
They tell enough.
cameras are a good alternative or asking acquaintances who have infrequent contact with you. unless you’re a female, they won’t lie to you (us T-men don’t can’t call obese chicks fat to their face). LOL
I heard this once: if you have to ask your boyfriend/sig other “do I look fat wearing this?” - hey, you ARE fat!!! The only time I step on a scale is during weigh-in for a contest. I use the mirror and I know when I’m just plain fat. But I usually stay around 10-11% - so, haven’t been a problem. Use your instincts.
I agree that taking pictures and using the mirror provides good feedback. Pictures are great, but often require significant changes to really note a difference. The mirror is good for those people who are already lean, but for those people who have a little or a lot of extra body fat, it does not provide really useful feedback. It may be obvious if your ab skinfold goes from 8 to 10mm but not so obvious if it goes from 18 to 20. Body composition measurement is a tool that I use to chart progress. It is an objective measure and is especially beneficial when a subjective measure may be harder to interpret.
Why do you need to know your BF %… I agree with Ko on this one. But if you need to know your BF % as a trainer to do it for you by using calibers that is the most acurate and it is usually free in most gym… Unless you have access to a Unvisersity that has a pool and do hydrostlic bf testing that is the most acurate…
I understand where your coming from, but I have to disagree with you. Your post is emphasizing accuracy vs. reliability. Accuracy is almost unattainable in body composition measurement unless you are involved in a research study measuring body density, bone mineral content, and total body water. Reliability is defined as the consistency of a measurement. Basically, if my weight and body composition were staying constant, the measurement would stay constant. If my body composition changed, the measurement would change to reflect the difference. Being able to get reliable measures to chart progress is the most important feature of any body composition tool. I’ve written about this before and recommend that before you give any more recommendations about body composition measurement, you read the posts that I recommended for PODGE. I am more than willing to discuss, but I would prefer that you understand my point of view before that. For the recreational bodybuilder/athlete, I recommend self monitoring via an impedance device or skinfold calipers. I prefer calipers, but I think that the impedance devices can be useful.
Right on Jason !.. i’m looking for reliability/consistency rather than accuracy, which is harder to get. if you see,…like… 4mm change in calipers over “x” amount of days… that shows progress. even if the BF% from the calipers is off by a couple % from a more accurate means. a consistent measure of progress, or lack thereof, is all i’m after.
Did I not say calipers are the best way to go??? And its free in most gyms?
Getting body fat measured is free in some gyms, but I do not think it is the norm. That’s why I recommend that you get some calipers and measure yourself. That way you can do it as often as you want, you can do it the same time of day, the same day of the week, etc. That is my point. Consistency is vital to reliability and good consistent conditions are not often the case when you get pinched at the gym by a trainer.
Hey those scales that measure your bodyfat are fuckin worthless…i have a background in nutrition taken many courses and am personal trainer…trust me those things are not accurate…underwater weighing, bodpod, are most accurate…but calipers can be accurate if the person has done it for years like a dietion…check out your local university or college i am sure you can find someone who knows what there doing…good luck
I do agree with you Jason. But Calipers cost around $200 for the best ones like the ones I use. And its kind of hard in taking BF w/ calipers by yourself especially if you follow the ACSM guideline of a 7 site BF the most accurate 3 site Jackson polic is okay not that accurate though. That was the only reason why I suggest him to take his bodyfat by a trainer. but if he consistly does it he would need to go to the same trainer that he went to the first time.
I recieved a Tanita scale for Christmas. I don’t care if it is accurate or not. I just want it to be consistent. What I mean by this is that if I take 3 different measurements each time I use it the numbers are within tenths of each other. This is the case with my scale. I don’t care if my Bf is 13% or not. I am currently on a cutting phase and the measurments my scale gives me are consistent with what I see in the mirror. I believe the under water testing is the most accurate.
I find that my BF measurments are higher in the morning than in the evening. I believe this has to with hydration. I am more hydrated in the evening then I am after a night of fasting.
I look at my scale as just another tool, along with a mirror, to help me guage how my nutrition and training are coming along.
Max