bodyfat measurement gadget

[Txgirl]

I don't have one, but would like to get one. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

[Aoife]

I've always found that a good set of calipers used consistently by someone who knows how doing the same thing every time works best for me. Doesn't change based on hydration levels or other easily fluctuating variables.

[Txgirl]

What about the Omron? Maybe just using it to gauge whether you heading up or down in bf.

[Aoife]

Personally, I'm not a fan of bioimpedance devices because of their fluctuation. They're useful, in that if you drop a whopping 10% it's prolly much fat, but I've had fluctuations of up to 4-5% in a given day so I find it hard to trend. Not that they can't be useful, but for me they vary by 2% when I'm heavy, and when I get really lean (under 20%bf) the fluctuation makes them worthless.

Others may have different opinions. I have a scale that does bf% (bioimpedance, obviously) that costs about what I remembering the omron thingie costing (around US$50) so ... personally that's a little more worth it to me (the scale over the omron).

It may not be the case for you. Plenty of people can use a bioimpedance device with decent accuracy and little fluctuation. *shrug*

[kfisherx]

the bioimpedence devices work well with little fluctuation ONLY if you are good about staying hydrated. If you are not good about that then they will read all over the place. I use one and always it is within 1% of the previous day or less. I always measure first thing in the morning and I always stay hydrated.

My friend isn't as good about hyrdatation and the thing is whacked out on his measurements some days. I've seen it fluctuate 4% or so.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by Txgirl

What about the Omron? Maybe just using it to gauge whether you heading up or down in bf.

There is no residential bioimpedence that is worth it's weight in crapola.

There is a 3-pt digital that does the calculations for about $30: Accu-fitness/Accu-measure FatTrack II (just search on fattack II). They package it with a girth measurement tape as well.

Otherwise, there is a 7-pt version called the fattrack pro, but it is $70. This will require the measurements be taken by someone else as one of the points is on the scapular area.

There is the good ole' manual that can do 3, 7 and 9-pt samplings for $15 or so.

[AnnetteW]

I have my tanita scale that measures bodyfat and also an Omron handheld. I have no faith in either, but I'm using them, sort of as an experiment to see what happens over the 6 month period.

The measures will be consistent for a few days, then be all over, then up and low. I've measured consistently in the mornings, and as far as being hydrated goes, how hydrated are we in the mornings? Not very much, though I drink a glass of water before bed.

In the attached chart, I track my daily weight, my bodyfat as measured on the tanita scale and on the Omron. An average is taken, then from the bodyweight and that average, my fat in lbs and lean in pounds is calculated. The next section over is basically the same thing, but it takes the last 4 measurements and averages them together.

Obviously I'm not gaining or losing 3 lbs of lean in a few days, so my chart and measurements are downright wrong.

I'm hoping to eventually see a downward trend, but as you can tell, it's probably not worth your money to invest in these things.

[baffled111]

Why not just have your body fat tested at the gym? My Y offers caliper tests for free and I have it done every 6 or 12 weeks, depending on where I am with a particular program. I would think that most gyms would offer bf testing for free or for a nominal fee. Calipers are more accurate than bioimpedence anyway.

It also seems to me that daily or even weekly bf testing isn't particularly helpful (as Annette's chart indicates). It's more like measurements: you're better off waiting longer between tests.

[rhauser44]

Originally Posted by Aoife

I've always found that a good set of calipers used consistently by someone who knows how doing the same thing every time works best for me. Doesn't change based on hydration levels or other easily fluctuating variables.

I agree with Aoife. When you are measuring BF, you should be concerned with the rate of change, not the exact amount. And using calipers in a consistent manner is the best way to track that change.

[UConnJulie]

I have the cheapie Accumeasure calipers ... and I use the one-spot measurement. Again, I doubt the validity of the actual number, but for me for trending, it is easy to use and it was very inexpensive.

Edited to add: I have an Omron and a Tanita scale and both seem equally inconsistent (and I am VERY well hydrated as I drink approximately 1 gallon of water daily).

[mel]

I have a tanita scale and the daily measurements do vary wildly. I must really dehydrate sometimes. However, over time, they average out fairly accurately. I measure every day and then average for the week. I do wish there was something accurate and fast that could be done at home....

mel

[Txgirl]

Thanks for all the responses.