As we all know, using body fat scales for sha ✔ping "I know that the techniques used↔πγ to measure body weightΩ¥× depend on current/pulse, but how a→♥→ccurate they are and whether water/food in the≤λ≥Ω stomach causes it to be just an electric curre★∑nt, so picking it up is like being fat? Asδ♥♣sessing the ability of body →£‌fat scale to measure body fat is complex, an​™↔ d the results are no§‌Ω♦t obvious: no body fat scale©∑¥₩ is very accurate. We know that becauseσ​ we used a measure called body fat scale a♥↓t Saint Heart University in Fairfield, Connec₩•§♥ticut, to get the baseline π☆≈reading.

Is the body fat measureφ ment on the body fat αε scale accurate?

Six volunteers - three men and three women, so☆♦♣me heavier, some slimmer, clim∞ <bed into body fat. Egg f¥™at weighing determines body f¶✘β→at by accurately recording the changes in pressur'♣e produced when the body is •←sealed into a closed chamb≥ er. Research shows that this meth♦& §od is as accurate as  α÷ other gold standards in b♦βody fat weighing, measuring how much water a bo÷σdy replaces when it i♥β$s immersed in a tank filled with water, but body↑•✔€ fat weighing is faste♣∑÷r and easier to performα&.

The body fat we tested is called measuring bγ÷←ody fat with an electric current, which pa¥×sses through your body when you step bar↔βefoot into the metal pad★‍↕‍ of the device. That tiny currentδ$☆ - too low to feel or cause any harm, ​≈≤←from one leg through your pelvis, from÷♠  the other leg down.

Resistance currently encounα tered during travel depends on theβ  proportion of fat to muscεσαle tissue. Based on this, the scale →₽∞≈uses built-in formulaσφs to estimate the percentage of body weβσΩight from fat.

Body fat ratio

Body fat claims that for s✘β↔<ome of our subjects, weight exaggerates their bod♥'y fat; for others, tα he scale underestimates itπ♣γ. The proportion of ★± >body fat closest to the body fat'εδ scale was still as high as 21%, w¶÷ ♦hile the number of the worst performers decreas✘φ↑£ed by 34%. But at least they are con<&®sistent, so you can track relative gain<★Ωs and losses using scalλ‌es that score higher in body f↕ ←★at repeatability.

How the device goes wrong ¶♣ may depend in part o≥φn the shape of the bod₹←¥&y. Because electricity f$εlows only through your legs, if your abΩ→δ™domen is large but your legs are thin, s↓ ‍↓cales may underestimate bo'¥φ✔dy fat, and if your h→ ≠'ips and thighs bear more weight, they overe↑ stimate it.

The results may vary depending↓☆φ on whether your feet are we£♣₩t or dry. According to instructions, they sh™∑$ould be dry, whether you exercise re↕↔≤cently, and how much‍♥ water you drink. If you have an ₽​artificial hip or knee, the device will not∞≠≠♠ work properly because the ar↑γ₩×tificial material will interfere wi✘≠ ‌th the current, they are far from ¶≥₹accurate. Fat distribution varies g↔♣ ​reatly. I look forward to a more robust ↔Ω‍integration of body fat caliper measuφ€rements of the limbs t​↓o help paint a better picture.

Much like body fat, BMI is still not sui ♦table for neglectingπγ heavier muscle mass andδ© ÷ fat. The doctor keptσ♦® telling me that I was overweigh​β∏ t on the BMI. Her recommended t↑★ ‌arget weight I hadn't seen b→α efore in college was body fat. When I incr☆☆×♠eased my body fat by 10% durin© g exercise, I thought they werππ​e accurate. Can it show di ♣fferent percentages for differen↑δ↑t people? Should some scales use inσ☆frared waves correctly?

I'm not sure. But I think ↑δσit's almost an accurate digital body fa" t scale. More or less it should be in that range☆β, because sometimes I measure it t"©wice and the numbers are different. This sca♣'le has been tried for some ↓‍time before. Whatever the accuracy of t♠‌he body fat scale, I think it ca™₽n still measure the different things w→α✘♦e are measuring: bod§♣y fat, BMI, calorie intake, ≠✔§αetc. At least we know our sub-measure¥γ♣ments of body weight and bod‌♥y fat. Perhaps not for the literal↔  meaning of the number display, but for mor↔✔≈©e basic understanding of our position in t¥ φhe current statistical♠‌♦α data on body fat.