Bought the new Tanita scales a few years back when body fat calculations on scales was a new concept. I would think they are better now. Looking to get some new scales. Anyone use a particular one they like a lot? Thx
I have a Homedics with an athlete mode and I like it a lot. Has the was function which doesnt seem to just add and subtract form the body fat and I have been tracking ti to see if that number can say something abotu hydration levels as I have heard others say at under 62% (on their scale) they have bad runs that morning. The fat % is mostly for tracking change but the scale is mainly for my wife other then the weight and water for me. I have heard the Tanita’s also have a good algorithm.
I have one of the new Tanita scales that I got for Christmas. I question the accuracy of the body fat thing. I’ll step on in the morning and it will read 8%, and then I’ll get on at lunch time and it will read 5.5%, so I obviously don’t drop 2 1/2% bodyfat in a few hours. I think it’s in the right range, but not dead-on accurate.
I have one of the new Tanita scales that I got for Christmas. I question the accuracy of the body fat thing. I’ll step on in the morning and it will read 8%, and then I’ll get on at lunch time and it will read 5.5%, so I obviously don’t drop 2 1/2% bodyfat in a few hours. I think it’s in the right range, but not dead-on accurate.
The fat measurement is most accurate when you are hydrated so they recommend you to measure in the evening. I have a Tanita and would say that it is a good tool to measure progress rather than to get an exact number.
To the OP, I doubt that a new scale will make any difference. The tech is not rocket science.
Bjorn
I have the Tanita BC558 (bought last fall) and find the fat % swings pretty significantly (4%) in the opposite direction of the water percentage. I’m also surprised at the fat %'s. Years ago I had been measured a few times and had a 4.7 to 4.9 body fat. With the Tanita it averages closer to 11% and I’m in better shape now. I’m guessing the way it measure is different. No idea which way is right and really don’t care. All that said, it seems to be a good directional measurement tool and over a period of time (with adjusting for the water percentage) seems to work well for me as one of many data points.
I’m always a bit surprised when I read about wild swings on Tanitas. I’ve had one for ~12 years and I find it to be VERY repeatable for me. The heaviest I’ve been is 148 and the lightest 115 (I’m only 5’4"). At 148 I was ~22% BF and at 115 around 9.5%. I have checked myself morning, after work and evening and it doesn’t vary more than 1% throughout a given day. It’s not likely that I got the only one that works, maybe they are more repeatable at lower weights or something like that? I did find that a handheld meter read about 3% higher than my Tanita scale.
I have the Tanita BC558 (bought last fall) and find the fat % swings pretty significantly (4%) in the opposite direction of the water percentage. I’m also surprised at the fat %'s. Years ago I had been measured a few times and had a 4.7 to 4.9 body fat. With the Tanita it averages closer to 11% and I’m in better shape now. I’m guessing the way it measure is different. No idea which way is right and really don’t care. All that said, it seems to be a good directional measurement tool and over a period of time (with adjusting for the water percentage) seems to work well for me as one of many data points.
If you are in a better shape now, you were not at 4.x % before. That’s like body building level, when competing…
Anyway, the way these scales measure is that they measure the muscle mass in the legs and compare it to your overall body weight. If you have relatively skinny legs you will show up as ‘fat’ as compared to muscular legs. This also means that if you add 5 lb of muscles on your chest, shoulders, arms you will show up as ‘fatter’.
The best way to use a Tanita scale is to use it as a reference to itself and measure in the evening during similar circumstances. It can’t really be compared to other measuring techniques.
People interested in measuring more exactly (for a reasonable price) would be advised to get a caliper.
Hello Hawkman and All,
Spit on your finger and wet the bottom of your feet a bit before weighing for more repeatable results.
The scale uses an electical measurement and a good contact with your feet helps for consistent results.
Still on my Tanita displayed weight is only good for trends.
Also you can easily observe body fat changes (at lower percentages) in a full length mirror.
A search on ST for ‘fat Tanita’ will keep you reading for a long time.
Popular subject - must be a commercial opportunities in fat analysis.
Cheers,
Neal
THe new scales with multiple points of contact (hand grips, feet, etc) are better since they’re more accurate. BUt, those where you step on and measure and not accurate and are off by 5-10% at times.
Bob
I have the Tanita M-dot version (I thought looking at it every morning would give me some extra motivation) which has only read my body fat at 5.5% regardless of my weight fluctuations. I had it checked using other methods, and it seems to be off by at least 3-5%
I need to get one of those.
I built up my upper body during the winter, definitely went down in bf%, but the Tanita didn’t show the same progress, rater the opposite. My legs are relatively skinny with extremely low bf%.
Bjorn
Unfortunately the good ones with handgrips and a better scan cost about $1000. For that you can get water BF testing (The gold standard) done
5-6 times a year.
I also have found discrepencies between th tanita 100-300 dollar brands versus the tanita commercial brand >1k. I’m talking 5% difference which makes it useless. The commerical Tanita that prints off a receipt and calipers were in line with each other… Best bet is going to a local fitness center for an accurate check…