Measuring BodyFat and Weight

T

Tom3

New member
Hello,

I've recently been starting to look after my food intake and exercise, as I get more into it I've started to get curious about what affect its been having on my weight and bodyfat%

so I need a set of scales and a way of measuring body fat

My question really is what's the most accurate way of measuring bodyfat%?

is it better to get a set of scales that measure body fat using electricity conductivity like :



or is it better to get a cheap set of scales and a bodyfat caliper?




Cheers, Tom
 
Tom3 said:
Hello,

I've recently been starting to look after my food intake and exercise, as I get more into it I've started to get curious about what affect its been having on my weight and bodyfat%

so I need a set of scales and a way of measuring body fat

My question really is what's the most accurate way of measuring bodyfat%?

is it better to get a set of scales that measure body fat using electricity conductivity like :



or is it better to get a cheap set of scales and a bodyfat caliper?




Cheers, Tom
Click to expand...


Scales that does the electric body fat calculations are known to be fairly off.
 
I use the Omron, but you have to be aware that it's not going to be 100% accurate. You have to use it consistently at the same time every time you use it and w/out food or water in your stomach. (Drinking, eating, going to the bathroom will influence the numbers.)

It's just like any measuring device ... it's all an estimate at best.

That said, I *do* use the Omron and I do trust it as a general guideline to where I am. I'm not concerned with getting down to 15% bodyfat (or lower) so for me a 10% or so variance doesn't bother me all that much.

YMMV and all that.
 
I don't know what tool your thinking of, but if its the one where you hold each end and stand waiting for the electric pulse to go through you....I have it on good authority that they do not work!

(I mean medical and personal training authority from several different unconnected sources).

The way they measure only really works out the upper bodyfat. Thus women will always have way to much fat as the legs- the lean part, are not included, instead the part which is included is the breasts, back and arms. This does a poor job as for most people, when you workout you mainly use your legs and its here which will tend to become leaner first, your stomach eventually and then your bust. But hormonally women will tend to hold more weight on their upper body and so the calculations will never be much help. Equally we all hold varying amounts of fat in different parts of out body- you can be a tiny petite size 6 frame and have a huge bust size and equally be very tall and stocky and have a minimal bust size but hold weight around their stomach, hip and thighs. The machine does not take this into consideration. The taller person will appear on the machine as having much less body fat even if overall they have a greater percentage.

The best way to get fat measured is apparently with the oldstyle clippers. I have not had this done (it costs more then I am willing to pay) but I hear they have advances in the machinary which does this so its maybe worth a shot if it is something you are serious about.
 
I don't know what tool your thinking of, but if its the one where you hold each end and stand waiting for the electric pulse to go through you....I have it on good authority that they do not work!
Click to expand...
I don't know what "authority" you have it on, but they do work. They're not 100% accurate, and they can be influenced if you've recently eaten or had anything to drink ... but the scale is the same way.

Are you going to get a perfect reading? No, but it'll give you a very close ballpark.
 
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