How to tweak BIA bodyfat analyzers to be more accurate

[Datoyminaytah]

Many people say that BIA (bioelectric impedance analysis) bodyfat analyzers do not necessarily measure bodyfat accurately, but are decent for tracking changes. This seems to be the case with mine.

Mine is a scale, not a hand-held unit. The input factors are height, age, sex, and normal/athlete. In normal mode it reads my fat too high, and in athlete mode it reads too low. (As compared to other methods of estimating bodyfat.)

I have found that if you increase the height value you input, it lowers the bodyfat percentage calculated, and vice versa. So, if you have a bodyfat estimate from another source that you believe is accurate, you can tweak height until the scale reads the "correct" value.

I have not done this over time, so I do not know if it will track accurately or will need periodic readjustment of height. It's just an idea I'm throwing out.

[QuietSet]

Thanks for the tip. It seems like a reasonable idea. I have a scale like that also, but mine seems to be pretty accurate. Everyone else says they're junk but mine doesn't seem half bad.