Scale With Body Fat %

[[old] ALLANON]

<!--QuoteBegin-gibbo1969+Aug 1 2005, 12:53 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gibbo1969 @ Aug 1 2005, 12:53 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->All so called body fat measuring scales are hopelessly inaccurate unfortunatly. They are useful in so far as they are generally consistently inaccurate, so you cam measure progress. But as they only measure impedance through the bootom half of the body they will never give an accurate reading.<br />To obtain an accurate reading either get a qualified PT to use calipers or get a full impedence or better still water displacment test done by a medical professional. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />That would be correct to some extent. However last time I checked callipers use a formula just the same as BIA uses, so your logic would be flawed in assuming callipers would be more accurate. As both have taken extremly large samples to gather data for their formulas, and if you think measuring 2 or 3 or even 4 or 10 places is more accurate then the measure of current impedence within 60% of your body, that is your right. However unless you are an extreme statistical anomaly, in which case both could be wrong, then just give it a rest, and realize both tests if done correctly are accurate, and if done incorrectly consistently, will still give you guide to your body composition change. For the cost and convenience the BIA scales are very accesesably to the general population, and it bothers me to hear people intentionaly or unintentionly mislead people due to their dislike of BIA for what ever reason. Also if you are truly interested in accuracy you should have a D.E.X.A. (dual-energy x-ray absorptometry) test done. These tests acctualy scan your internal makeup with two xrays, also they are extremly safe as it would take hundreds of tests to equal 1 chest xray. However the cost is rather high I believe they are about $100-$300,and as I have seen no need to get that detailed with my body composition, I have never done one.

[[old] RockinRobin]

<!--QuoteBegin-gibbo1969+Jul 31 2005, 11:53 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gibbo1969 @ Jul 31 2005, 11:53 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->To obtain an accurate reading either get a qualified PT to use calipers or get a full impedence or better still water displacment test done by a medical professional. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Being the cheapscape that I am....I just use the ole mirror test which is fairly accurate in my case. <br /><br />I do use the body measurement method and plug it into a freeware program I got off the internet. I can't say how precise it is, but it's in the ball park. And it at least gives you a baseline to see trends.