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Weighing machines that measure fat percentage

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Tannith

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Does anyone know whether these actually work? and if so,how they work. I find it hard to believe that a home scale could "know" how much of you is fat. If they work I would like to buy one. Any recommendations?
 
I do not know how the home scales work.
My gym has a complex one which tells you how much fat and muscle you have in arms, legs, core, etc.
Given you have to stand in bare feet, hold on to some paddles and there was a question whether my pump would be affected (I took it off just in case), I think they pass a weak electric current through you and calculate relative density based on resistance ... or something like that.
 
helensaramay said:
I do not know how the home scales work.
My gym has a complex one which tells you how much fat and muscle you have in arms, legs, core, etc.
Given you have to stand in bare feet, hold on to some paddles and there was a question whether my pump would be affected (I took it off just in case), I think they pass a weak electric current through you and calculate relative density based on resistance ... or something like that.
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Yes, they measure your impedance (=resistance)
 
The home scales with only foot pads pass a small electric current up one leg and down the other so bypass much of the body. I would expect them to be inaccurate due to the variation in the connection to the pads (wet feet?) apart from anything else.
 
They are all very inaccurate for some people, the problem is you don't know if you are one of these people. But I would tend to trust them if you use them to track how the amount of fat is charming.
 
My home scales are much like my BG meter, no doubt not entirely accurate but, very good for trends and maintenance on % body fat, scale of visceral fat and other body compositions.
 
Try "Body Composition Monitor" into a search engine and see what comes up. I have the Omron BF511, which is about middle-range price,and same as others have said, I use it mainly to watch trends rather than for absolute accuracy. (Other body monitors are available!)
After my research I felt the one with handle grasps as well as foot pads was the best choice, because the assessment is made passing a very small electric current through the whole body, not just the lower limbs. They also keep records, so you can check back over the previous results. If you have a look at the various options that come up, no doubt the home sites will explain in more detail how the things work - you might even be able to view a user manual on line.

:)


edit: spelling
 
I'm not so sure that these type of scales can show even a rough idea of fat percentage.
I've had induction tests done at the hospital where electrodes are fitted at different points of the body and the readings taken by a consultant (it is not a pleasant experience). Although the induction tests measure a different condition the principle is the same, an electical impulse is passed through the (legs in my case) body and resistance is measured.
Having had these tests and having seen the prices of these fat measuring scales I decided against buying a set.
Robkww said:
My home scales are much like my BG meter, no doubt not entirely accurate but, very good for trends and maintenance on % body fat, scale of visceral fat and other body compositions.
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A home scale that measures visceral fat? The zooped mri used in the ND research presently is the only process that I have heard of that can measure visceral fat at least around the liver and pancreas, that is.
 
Perhaps all body composition scales simply show fat categories decreasing as body weight decreases - in my case it was all going in the right direction so happy to be fooled along to a BMI of 21, which I now maintain!
 
Ive got the Omron one with handles.
Ive always found scales to be scarily variable in what they show and have little doubt that the same is true of the ones that measure fancy extras like body composition. I take the approach that whilst scales vary among themselves, they are likely to be internally consistent in whatever % error they produce and are therefore good at measuring change so Im sticking with the Omron.
Add to that Im shallow and quite like what the Omron is telling me! - i.e. overweight but decreasing, Fat % high but decreasing, muscle % very high and increasing, visceral fat normal. Not too shabby for a 60 year old bird
 
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Thank you everyone. I suppose they measure change. But then again so does the normal scale and I assume that what I am losing is fat.
 
@Tannith . Another option to determine body fat % is to find a bod pod machine . This can give a fairly accurate breakdown of body composition. Large or up market leisure centres tend to have them . You can usually book to use one, it takes about 10 mins and costs around £10. You will then get a print out of your body composition as close as you can actually get without all your body fat being removed from your body and weighed separately. Obviously there are problems removing all your body fat and weighing separately, death being the main obstacle, but it's the only way to know exactly.
 
Tannith said:
Does anyone know whether these actually work? and if so,how they work. I find it hard to believe that a home scale could "know" how much of you is fat. If they work I would like to buy one. Any recommendations?
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Tannith - I have those shown in this youtube video. I fond them very good, and consistent with others I have used in medical establishments. I particularly wanted to be able to track my visceral fat.


Coincidentally, when in Lidl today (replenishing the yoghurt lake)I noticed that they are selling a body fat monitor that looks fairly comprehensive, but without the hand grasps. If I recall the scales were under £20.
 
therower said:
@Tannith . Another option to determine body fat % is to find a bod pod machine . This can give a fairly accurate breakdown of body composition. Large or up market leisure centres tend to have them . You can usually book to use one, it takes about 10 mins and costs around £10. You will then get a print out of your body composition as close as you can actually get without all your body fat being removed from your body and weighed separately. Obviously there are problems removing all your body fat and weighing separately, death being the main obstacle, but it's the only way to know exactly.
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Have you used one, therower? If so, where did you go? If I recall we may be geographically relatively close.
 
DCUKMod said:
Have you used one, therower? If so, where did you go? If I recall we may be geographically relatively close.
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Hi @DCUKMod . Never got around to using one yet, diabetic consultant has suggested I have a go on account my BMI is usually around 27 and she feels it's due to muscle mass as opposed to fat.:).
The closest one I found was.....
The Radmoor Centre. Loughborough. 01509 517110.
When I spoke to them they were very helpful. £ 10 a go , early morning before breakfast is best time or at least 3 hrs after eating.
Full printout and I think you can book in advance.
Hope this helps you. Must admit it does sound good.
 
@therower - I don't know where you have your diabetes care (General or Royal? - rhetorical), but in the NIHR part of the General Diabetes Centre, they have all sorts of sophisticated measuring "stuff" I keep discovering as I find myself in yet another part of that rabbit warren.

I have wondered a few times if they have a Bod Pod.
 
Guzzler said:
I'm not so sure that these type of scales can show even a rough idea of fat percentage.
I've had induction tests done at the hospital where electrodes are fitted at different points of the body and the readings taken by a consultant (it is not a pleasant experience). Although the induction tests measure a different condition the principle is the same, an electical impulse is passed through the (legs in my case) body and resistance is measured.
Having had these tests and having seen the prices of these fat measuring scales I decided against buying a set.

A home scale that measures visceral fat? The zooped mri used in the ND research presently is the only process that I have heard of that can measure visceral fat at least around the liver and pancreas, that is.
Click to expand...

No expert but I am not sure that is right - the scales can measure visceral fat.
The ND super machine measure fat in the liver and pancreas. That you cannot (alas) buy on the high st.
I have tested mine against those at a hospital and accurate enough.
 
@DCUKMod . General now, Royal previously. I did hear mention of some type of gym equipment at the General but I've never seen it. Consultant at General although mentioning BodPod as never said it is available within the NHS structure. BUT like a lot of things NHS if you don't ask they don't tell.
 
therower said:
@DCUKMod . General now, Royal previously. I did hear mention of some type of gym equipment at the General but I've never seen it. Consultant at General although mentioning BodPod as never said it is available within the NHS structure. BUT like a lot of things NHS if you don't ask they don't tell.
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The gym equipment up there is astonishing, in lots of ways; for specialised exercises and situations. They have all sorts of non-standard "stuff" because they may be using it to measure (or whatever) as part of a study or trial. There are over 140 people in that building, involved in diabetes research, yet sometimes we think there's nothing going on.
 
DCUKMod said:
The gym equipment up there is astonishing, in lots of ways; for specialised exercises and situations. They have all sorts of non-standard "stuff" because they may be using it to measure (or whatever) as part of a study or trial. There are over 140 people in that building, involved in diabetes research, yet sometimes we think there's nothing going on.
Click to expand...
I think we are very lucky in as much as we are in a NHS area that is at the forefront of diabetes research and care.
 
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