View Full Version : bodyfat measurements methods
Have any of you had experience or know anything about the scales that you stand on for measuring bodyfat? Anything about Taylor products?
freaker
01-27-2003, 09:28 AM
Those bodyfat scales and the hand-held bodyfat testers are not very accurate. They always say my bodyfat is higher than it is based on the caliper method. I also showed no change on the hand-held bodyfat tester while the calipers showed a 6 pound decrease in fat, and from pictures I took it was quite obvious I lost a lot of bodyfat. Impedance type devices such as those are affected by far too many factors such as food and water balance, medications, time of day, clothing and jewelry, and who knows what else. Basically, they suck.
TrishB
01-27-2003, 05:52 PM
Taylor just got written up in both Good Housekeeping and Consumer Digest as being the most accurate scale, and coming in very close to caliber testing.
Soooo... I had to go and buy one.
I compared doing both first thing in the morning on the same day.
Calibers....19%
Scale.......22%
Not too off, but of course I like the 19% better. :)
I figure I will use the scale weekly, just to see progression,since it is so easy.
And do the calibers monthly.
laulau418
02-05-2003, 11:27 AM
I just bought the accumeasure digital caliper -
I am not sure what I think of it. It is really hard to get a reading by myself and considering the first sight is the tricep -
my readings have been all over the place.
I wast thinking about buying one of those scales -
What brand did you get?
laulau418
02-05-2003, 11:40 AM
Anyone ever used or heard of the Omron ones that you hold out in front of you? Are they any good? Accurate?
TrishB
02-05-2003, 03:46 PM
I bought the Taylor scale. I am not sure of different types, it just has Taylor body fat analysis on it..
So far it has been pretty right on with comparison to the digital calipers. It is off by 1 to 3% only, which for me is ok...since it is so much easier to do than the calipers.
I like to see numbers, but it is always nice to see the results in the mirror. :)
laulau418
02-06-2003, 04:41 AM
I just bought one from Tanita. Supposedly it is one of the best -
Those calipers are too damn tricky. I will let you all know how it is when I get it.
After reading something I called Taylor and asked if you regular weight trained and had muscle if it was accurate and she said no, it would give a higher reading....she wasn't what I call "an overly bright individual" so she couldn't tell me why exactly.
laulau418
02-06-2003, 06:16 AM
I hope I didn't just waste $80 -
It is starting to sound like I might have
I don't know, I have heard they weren't that great but maybe it can serve as just a gauge for gaining or losing but it's funny, most people I talk to who have used them seem to come in at almost the same bodyfat. I do know that regardless of what the manufaturer says water weight does effect it, I tried it myself.
Maybe I'll try it in the pool..ha!
laulau418
02-06-2003, 06:24 AM
LOL ! Too funny -
Hey you never know - maybe it'll work
I just needed something other than the caliper...I can't seem to get an accurate result when I do it, and when I let my boyfriend do it, I have black and blues all over my triceps
LOL