Body fat scales

[acatalina]

Does anyone have a body fat scale. I have one and it tells me my body fat % is 21.4%. But when i do an online chart it tells me 26%.
According to my weight and height.
Are the scales accurate.
Or is it the equation tht tells you how much fat you have.
The scale had me program my age and height into it.
My ultimate goal is about 15%.
Should I go by my scale , buy a caliper, or use the chart?
Also how does the chart know how much muscle you have ?
I wonder what body builders like Cory Eversons scale said!!!!

Input is appreciated.
Anne

 

[materialsgirl]

Neither of those methods are accurate, unfortunately (scale or chart). Body fat scales are notorious for varying wildly for readings taken just a few minutes apart. They are so dependent on a number of variables, you'd be pretty darn lucky to get a reading that was in even the ballpark. The good news is that they usually read high for most women. Charts are even less accurate, I image, because they are based on measurements and weight and cannot tell if you are muscular or flabby - and that makes a big difference. Calipers are probably the best at-home method of testing body fat, but it takes practice to get the method down so you are getting repeatable results. Actually, the best at-home method is looking in the mirror. When you are seeing the muscle definition you want, then you know you've reached your goal. It can really be as simple as that.

If you want to really know your BF%, see if you can find a local health club that has a Bod Pod. It is based on the same concept as hydrostatic weighing, but uses air instead of water - so no uncomfortable holding of your breath and being dunked underwater, etc. We have a local rec center that charges non-members about $30 for a reading - it would be good to do for a baseline, and then maybe twice a year to check your progress. I think the Bod Pod website is www.bodpod.com - you should be able to search for one near you. Hope this helps.

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

I have every form of "over the counter" body testing method known to man and the readings all come out to the same %...give or take a few percentages. My scale reading is very close to the caliper, which is close to the hand held Omron. Most often the measurements are the same but certain days of the month;-) there are slight deviations. I've never had any experience where I take a reading on X day at Y hour and then repeat the next day or week and get a totally different reading. They have consistantly been "on the mark". NOW, I am not saying they are 100% accurate but that is not what I am going for. The bf scales should be used as a measuring device and nothing more. What I am saying is that if your goals are to lose fat and add/maintain muscle, a scale can help *monitor* your progress. If your readings are about 22% and your goal is 15% and after weeks of hard work your reading is lower, then you know you burned some fat and you are on the right track. It doesn't garrantee that your reading is "dead on" but it is an excellent source to monitor your progress if you are serious about fat loss and muscle maintenance/gain. How else can you be sure your not burning too much muscle??

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

Wanted to add...chuck the chart method...NO WAY that can be accurate. Might be a ballpark guess but not much more. A chart has no way of knowing what your pounds are made up of!

Also, calipers are the most accurate type of self reading, when done correctly, which takes practice.

 

[pixie9]

IMA-
Just wondering how you get your scale to be so consistant? I have one of the top of the line Tanita scales and it is always giving me and my husband different readings, even when taken minutes apart. I have gone from 25% to 18% body fat in one day. I know we've had this discussion before and I don't want to fight about it, I really just want to know how you get yours to be so accurate. Incidently, I've tried other brands as well and they seem to fluctuate just as much.
I also happen to agree with you on the chart method. They usually don't ever apply to fit people.
carolyn

 

[candi]

Me too! It's outrageous and cruel!:+