According to the american college of sports medicine bia measures body fat with the same accuracy as skin fold calipers trailing only hydrostatic weighing for accuracy. Athletes typically have much less body fat. Results from portable body fat analyzers can vary depending on many factors however including the quality of the device and how hydrated you are when the measurement is taken. If youre concerned about your body fat percentage skip the commercially available body fat analyzers and ask your doctor about the use of more accurate measurement techniques. You can buy a fairly basic scale with body fat capabilities for around 25. The following body fat measurement tools require special machinery and provide much more accurate results.
Handheld body fat monitors. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track your body fat percentage but they may not tell the complete story about your health. That these scales are not as accurate as other body fat measurement methods. Accuracy can also vary depending on various factors including. A consumer reports study of body fat scales supports what many health and fitness experts say. In addition more important than total body fat is where the fat is distributedand body fat scales don.
According to some experts a healthy range is 23 to 33 percent for middle aged women 11 to 21 percent for middle age men and up to 35 percent for older women and 24 percent for older men. Body fat scales are one of the most popular ways to measure your body fat mainly because theyre quick and easy to use. Just as the weather reporter cannot predict the weather with 100 accuracy we cannot predict your body fat levels with 100 accuracy how do body fat percentage scales work. Bod pod a bod pod is a machine that calculates a persons body density. One issue is that the current runs from foot to foot and therefore is only measuring fat content in the lower body. You can buy a good body fat caliper for less than 10.
If you want one that offers a wider range of body composition measurements links to your phone and promises greater accuracy expect to pay between 30 and 50. Handheld body fat monitors measure body fat by a process called bioelectrical impedance analysis or bia.