I am really working towards reducing my body fat but I don't want to lose weight. I got this scale that gives me both readings, weight and body fat. I am 5'4" and I weigh 110. This scale told me at various times that I had 23% body fat all the way to 26% body fat. That is depressing given that I work out an hour every day and have for some time. Has anyone had experience with that type of scale? Are they just terribly inaccurate? The scale is a "Tanita".
Can't believe it
- Thread starter Jamn
- Start date
materialsgirl
Cathlete
The short answer is: Yes, they are innacurate.
The reading you get depends on a LOT of variables. The most imporant is your hydration level. If you are dehydrated, your body fat % will read higher. I won't get into the nitty-gritty technical details, but the fact of the matter is that it's really difficult to get consistent, accurate readings from a body fat scale. If you take a reading at the exact same time of day, under the same conditions every time, then you CAN develop a trend (to see if your body fat is going up or down over time). But the absolute accuracy of the numbers will still be questionable, at best.
The reading you get depends on a LOT of variables. The most imporant is your hydration level. If you are dehydrated, your body fat % will read higher. I won't get into the nitty-gritty technical details, but the fact of the matter is that it's really difficult to get consistent, accurate readings from a body fat scale. If you take a reading at the exact same time of day, under the same conditions every time, then you CAN develop a trend (to see if your body fat is going up or down over time). But the absolute accuracy of the numbers will still be questionable, at best.
nancy324
Cathlete
I think those scales are known for being inaccurate, and I'm sure your BF isn't that high.
It's funny, though. Like Laura, I'm 5'3" and weigh about 110, but I can literally see the fat jiggling on my tummy. There is no way I'm even close to Laura in BF percentage, even though we're the same height and weight. I'm probably between 20-25%.
It's funny, though. Like Laura, I'm 5'3" and weigh about 110, but I can literally see the fat jiggling on my tummy. There is no way I'm even close to Laura in BF percentage, even though we're the same height and weight. I'm probably between 20-25%.
eminenz2
Cathlete
If I remember correctly, the directions for use that came with my Tanita scale said specifically, "The bodyfat indicator is not meant for people who participate in an active lifestyle." It went on to explain that an active lifestyle describes people who exercise more than three times per week.
So, IMHO, the bodyfat measurements on a Tanita scale are useless.
So, IMHO, the bodyfat measurements on a Tanita scale are useless.
dreamyjeanie
Cathlete
I use mine strictly as a guide. I weigh at the same time, same clothes etc. I knew it read differently at different times of day so I decided to do a little test. I weighed myself right before going to bed and then first thing the next morning without drinking any more liquids or voiding in between. My morning read was 4% higher than the night before. The evening read was close to what my Accumeasure caliper reads.