Body fat/water measurer scale thingies.

[Gnat]

I wasnt sure where to out this..but there are lots of excercisy people here....

Those scales that measure body fat % and water %... do they work?

I've just been bought some and dont quite understand them.
Also, is there any websites which are good for telling you what they should be, and what is all means etc?

:D

[SidewinderINC]

I've been told they're pretty accurate -
http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/gadgets/story/0,,1014267,00.html
I have a Rosemary Conely one here, product code RC-BFS02 (cost £60 a while back, my mum bought it though and stopped using it so said I could have it)

It's told me I've lost a stone in weight since january and that I've gone from 25% bodyfat to 20% bodyfat.


Edit - Scrap Wiki


http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/images/bodyfatb.jpg


Stolen from http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/body_weight/body_fat/percentage.htm

[Roberta]

The only reliable way of measuring bodyfat (especially if you're female - fluctuations in hormones meaning more water at certain times of the month) is with calipers by someone who is well trained.

[Gnat]

The only reliable way of measuring bodyfat (especially if you're female - fluctuations in hormones meaning more water at certain times of the month) is with calipers by someone who is well trained.

So I shouldnt listen to much to what it says then? I'm very confused by it all.

Also, what does the water part mean? if it is low you need to drink more and if it is high you are drinking too much?

Sorry if these are all stupid questions... I just dont get it.:confused:

[Will]

Ignore scales - they are NOT accurate at all for body fat measurements.

Water retention - girls suffer more water retention during periods of higher hormonal activity... I shan't go into the exact details as you know more about it than I! ;) :p

Look up water retnetion on google - it'll give you plenty of info :)

Callipers are the best way to get it done - 4 or 6 measurement points I think - but get it done by someone who knows what they are doing, and don't do it during your girly time!

[Gnat]

I shall use the scales just for normal weighing then :)

[Roberta]

As Will says, scales and other electronic devices tend to take weight and height into consideration which means they're working off the BMI which can be very unreliable.

I used to have to use electronic hand held devices in 2 gyms I worked in. They would vary wildly with each use just minutes apart. Also, if the people being measured were dehydrated they would give a wrong reading as well as if the person was suffering from water retention. I refused to use them in the end.

With water retention in women, I've seen some women weigh an extra 5lbs just before their period. So if the scales are using BMI to calculate this throws the figures out.

[Piggymon]

I get callipered every 6/8 weeks :D

My BF% is in my sig.

I've dropped 7% bodyfat since I first started exercising but only lost about 3 lbs in total so if I were to just use the scales they would tell me I've made no progress at all but the pics below prove otherwise....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Progress%20Pics/Progress3-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Progress%20Pics/Progress2-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Progress%20Pics/Progress-1.jpg