Accuracy of body fat scales?

[Heathwood]

Hi folks,

I currently use a set of scales which provide various data such as body fat % / water % etc. I have a vague understanding of how they work and realise they are far from 100% accurate.

However, this evening I stepped on the scales and recorded the info as usual. Over the next 20mins or so I drank a couple of pints of water and, out of curiosity, I weighed myself again. I was, understandably, half a kilo or so heavier, however according to the scales all this increased weight was fat, so my body fat % was noticably higher. Also, my water % had decreased.

Can anyone shed any light on what's actually going on here? I'm currently trying to put on weight whilst limiting any increase in fat, so I'm keen to understand this a little better.

Thanks for any info / advice

[mattikake]

Heathwood said:

Can anyone shed any light on what's actually going on here?

You said it yourself. It's BS.

HTH!

Seriously. How can overall weight accurately represent fat/water/body%? It's the same reason why BMI also cannot accurately report fat content and why BMI also reports ripped bodybuilders as being overweight...

[Heathwood]

Thanks Matt. Going forward I think a better barometer of fat % is how I look in the mirror and how my clothes fit.

[amare32]

If you can put on a tight compression sports top and can see your abs through it then that's when you've lost enough fat.

Otherwise you need to eat less and move more

[Heathwood]

amare32 said:

If you can put on a tight compression sports top and can see your abs through it then that's when you've lost enough fat.

Yep, I can thank you

My issue is that I want to put on a bit of weight, but the right kind (i.e. as little fat as possible)

[Liokault]

I have a very old set of bady fat scales. I measured my mate who had a calliper check at a sports clinic the same week and the two body fat % were the same.

So fluke or science?

[Magic919]

Even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.

[Brother D]

I'm not sure how these things are calibrated. But I expect they work on measuring resistance between two pads. Which is far too variable to measure. Saying that, I recall a test which if you keep all things equal. Time of day/hydration etc -they can provide a measure of fat percentage change. I.e. 2% change, albeit 6-7% or 24-22%. Just that the base/starting figure was inaccurate

[FunkyNige]

I use mine at the same time every time I weigh myself (just after I wake up) and the results are always pretty consistent so I guess that means they're not too far out, I have heard that stomach contents, etc. can vary the results quite a bit.

[Halb]

The scales are pretty good as said if you get a start point, and then record from that start point, being careful to keep the criteria the same when you record.

http://www.tanita.eu/

It a hands and feet unit?

[Himself]

I'd be inclined to RTFM,

"To ensure accuracy, readings should be taken without clothing and under consistent conditions of hydration.

It is best to take readings at the same time of day. Try to wait about three hours after rising, eating, or hard exercise before taking measurements.

While readings taken under other conditions may not have the same absolute values, they are accurate for determining the percentage of change as long as the readings are taken in a consistent manner. To monitor progress, compare weight and body fat percentage taken under the same conditions over a period of time."