Anyone used a Bod Pod??

emmie · 07-19-2006, 12:24 PM

Have any of you ladies had your BF measured using one of these machines? I had mine done today at Univ. of R.I.'s exercise physiology laboratory. I had read about the machine in a magazine and went to their website (www.bodpod.com) to find out of there was a facility in my area which has one. The machine costs about $50,000, so it's not really intended for home use... Apparently this method of measurement is accurate within 2%. It's comparable to the hydrostatic "dunk tank" method.

This is the first time I've had my BF measured, and my BF is higher than I expcted (hoped??) it would be. When I read people's stats and look at their pictures I sometimes see people who don't look as lean as I do, yet whose BF is lower. Is that simply because their muscle mass is greater? Is is genetics?

I'm trying not to obsess about the numbers, but you know how it can be some days...

Thanks in advance!
Emma

PorscheGal · 07-19-2006, 10:51 PM

That is interesting, I've never seen one before. I am going tomorrow morning to get the hyrostatic weighing done though and I'm afraid I'll come out fatter than I think/hope too! I'm going to use my Omron handheld just before I go so I can compare the results.

SexyChic · 07-20-2006, 12:54 AM

Don't let the numbers get you down hon...It's not about what the numbers say, but how healthy you are.
I think I read somewhere that anywhere up to 22% and around there is "athletic", and is still pretty healthy.

"The minimum percent bodyfat considered safe and acceptable for good health is 5% for males and 12% for females. The average adult bodyfat is closer to 15%-18% for men and 22%-25% for women."

The most important thing is that you have a healthy lifestyle and are progressing towards your goal.
I saw the most beautiful woman in the gym the other day, perfect body... I mean she was incredible...
And when she passed by I heard a personal trainer say "It took her years to look like that" and it just reinforced the fact in my head that it takes awhile to build that awesome body. Doesn't happen overnight.

Consistency pays off big time. Anyway, also keep in mind that some people look leaner than others even though they have higher bf. For eg, I have to get down to like 13% bf to see my abs, when other girls don't have to get down that low to see theirs. Everyone is different.

Plus calipers and other ways of measuring, besides the way you did, arent very accurate so you can't take their numbers too seriously

emmie · 07-20-2006, 06:40 AM

Julia - God luck with your hydrostatic test! I'd be very interested to know how that test compares with your Omron measurement. Will you update us, please?

SexyChic - Thank you for your supportive post! So stupid to get hung up on the numbers, I know, but it's an easy trap to fall into. Before I knew what the actual number was, I felt REALLY GOOD about my body and the progress I've made. After seeing that number I feel so much less satisfied... Even though I look EXACTLY THE SAME as I did before the measurement!!!

I'm within the "lean" range of BF, but reading posts about people with very low BF (12-14), and seeing their pictures...it doesn't seem possible that mine is so high in comparison. I agree that WHO measures you, and HOW they measure you makes a tremendous difference in the reading.

Basically, I'm mad at myself for allowing myself to become preoccupied with a stupid number. Old habits die hard, alas!

Thanks, ladies!
- Emma

mykidsmom · 07-20-2006, 07:16 AM

The bod pod and hydrostatic weighing a good and give a close approximation. There was a scientific journal article I read recently, Exercise and Physiology, I think, that compared the bod pod to hydrostatic to DXA. The DXA is, by far the most reliable. Bod pod regularly OVERestimated by approximately 5%.

PorscheGal · 07-20-2006, 11:42 AM

Hi Emmie,

First off, hydro weighing is an experience altogether! You lay face down on a metal frame that has wires attached to a dial "scale", not sure what the numbers on it mean. The guy was very patient with me. You have to blow out all your air and hold yourself down on the frame unitl you are completely submerged and he sees no more bubbles coming out of you! This was very hard. A persons natural instinct is to breathe in after you let it all out! Not good under water so I kept coming up before I was completely under...by the fourth time I managed to get under, but not sure how really empty my lunges were. He did say that the first time a person does this (unless they are really good at it) has a 2-3 % margin of error. My results were 22.9% He felt given the way I looked that an error of 2% would be in my favor of about 20.9% bf. I used my Omron this morning before I left and on the female, althetic setting is read 20.8%.

I plan on doing this again in 8 weeks and practicing blowing out air in my swimming pool!

emmie · 07-20-2006, 02:10 PM

Julia, thanks for the update! The guy who did my Bod Pod test told me that hydrostatic testing results can vary for the very reason that you stated: If the person being measures is anxious/scared (and who wouldn't be??) and retains some of the air in the lungs, the air is measured as body mass and skews the result....

Must be nice to know that your Omron is pretty accurate! WOuld you mind sharing the model number?

Thanks!
Emma

(P.S. We're *almost* exactly the same %. Not sure if I should insert a

here, or a

here! )

golfGirl · 07-20-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykidsmom

The bod pod and hydrostatic weighing a good and give a close approximation. There was a scientific journal article I read recently, Exercise and Physiology, I think, that compared the bod pod to hydrostatic to DXA. The DXA is, by far the most reliable. Bod pod regularly OVERestimated by approximately 5%.

Heck! If it's off by that much you might as well go stand on a Tanita scale

PorscheGal · 07-20-2006, 02:56 PM

The one I have is this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ance&n=3760901

incase the link doesn't work: Omron HBF-306, I got it on Amazon and MsFit sells it too on her site.

Atlanta Muscle · 07-20-2006, 03:04 PM

What does air weigh?

>and retains some of the air in the lungs, the air is measured as body mass

actually air in your lungs would provide bouyancy and result in a lower weight measurement

PorscheGal · 07-21-2006, 12:58 AM

I think the bouyancy computes as fat would, making reading a higher fat % than it otherwise would be because fat floats, muscle sinks.

stella summers · 07-21-2006, 01:08 AM

How much does it cost to go get this done?

PorscheGal · 07-21-2006, 09:41 AM

It was $80. If I was a member of their club, it would have been cheaper, that was the non-member price. They also do VO2 max and RBM testing too.

emmie · 07-21-2006, 02:25 PM

My Bod Pod test was $35.

But...I keep looking at pictures of people who give their BF % and I continue to believe that my measurement was off, as in, higher than I really am. That, or, the people who post their stats have gotten inaccurate readings and their BF is higher. Why do I care??? I don't know....

Thanks for the Omron data, Julia!

- Emma

user34566548717114 · 05-02-2008, 01:20 PM

not sure if you want males in here

but I just wanted to share I used one today at 9am and was measured at 6.7%

I feel it is a very accurate and consistant measure as I did repeated trials and each trial with re-calibration put me in that range each time. Air displacement is second only to perhaps hydrostatic but the % error is less then 2% which is VERY good.

The procedure cost me 20 dollars: make sure you wear the swim cap and tight fitting shorts since the test is based on displacement. And morning tests are more accurate since food + water intake before hand can cause minor influences on your body volume. Its best to take the test upon waking

you can find locations from the web site

http://www.bodpod.com/

i used the siri model if that helps at all

BodPodDave · 09-30-2008, 02:43 PM

Hi,

I have owned a research model Bod Pod for the last 3 years and have administered 100s of measurements. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the Bod Pod.

Yours in health,

Dave Peters
Manage Your Body Composition
Dave@ManageYourBodyComposition.com
www.ManageYourBodyComposition.com

Tiffany_P · 10-01-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmie

My Bod Pod test was $35.

But...I keep looking at pictures of people who give their BF % and I continue to believe that my measurement was off, as in, higher than I really am. That, or, the people who post their stats have gotten inaccurate readings and their BF is higher. Why do I care??? I don't know....

Thanks for the Omron data, Julia!

- Emma

Most people have a higher BF% than they think, so it's likely that your measurement was correct and everyone else's estimation is too low. There are definitely some people here who are in serious denial. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I might be in the mid 20's.

JVo · 10-01-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiffany_P

Most people have a higher BF% than they think, so it's likely that your measurement was correct and everyone else's estimation is too low. There are definitely some people here who are in serious denial. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I might be in the mid 20's.

This is what I was going to say! A lot of us get inaccurate measurements. I had a caliper measurement done at my gym that read 12%, the hydrostatic measurement said 17%, but I actually think I may be 18-19% (based on a video I saw in which this woman sort of showed examples of people at different bf%s).

Anyway, who really cares what the number is if you're happy with the way you look? Personally, I was relieved to find out that I wasn't 12%, because that meant that I could lose more weight and still be healthy.

cotynalls · 03-06-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmie

Have any of you ladies had your BF measured using one of these machines? I had mine done today at Univ. of R.I.'s exercise physiology laboratory. I had read about the machine in a magazine and went to their website (www.bodpod.com) to find out of there was a facility in my area which has one. The machine costs about $50,000, so it's not really intended for home use... Apparently this method of the measurement is accurate within 2%. It's comparable to the hydrostatic "dunk tank" method.

This is the first time I've had my BF measured, and my BF is higher than I expcted (hoped??) it would be. When I read people's stats and look at their pictures I sometimes see people who don't look as lean as I do, yet whose BF is lower. Is that simply because their muscle mass is greater? Is is genetics?

I'm trying not to obsess about the numbers, but you know how it can be some days...

Thanks in advance!
Emma

Emma the Bod Pod is said to be the next to best thing compared to HW.. Some researchers say that over a large population that the BP is actually better because there is not much room for test error. Referring back to you unwanted numbers.... 1) Menstrual cycle has an effect 1- 2%?? 2) Empty those vowls?? 3) And the longer that you fast the more accurate the test will be.. even water??

Miranda · 03-06-2009, 02:03 PM

here's a good article about different measuring methods:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat...on-part-2.html

SearMeCarefully · 03-07-2009, 12:18 PM

My local university has it as well for ~$25. I keep meaning to get it done but I always forget! I want to go about once a month to mark my progress. It would be interesting I think.. (and motivating)

Bgkatz · 03-08-2009, 05:33 PM

Any one know of any info on how to get tested in massachusetts?

Ive been lookin' on the web but no dice so far....

Thanks

SearMeCarefully · 03-08-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bgkatz

Any one know of any info on how to get tested in massachusetts?

Ive been lookin' on the web but no dice so far....

Thanks

I would try your local hospitals are maybe university?

jm.bowman · 04-02-2009, 05:08 PM

Does anybody know where I can get this test done in the NYC/NJ area? I'd greatly appreciate it... by the way, this looks a little hokey... I hope its official and not some info-mercial product scam.

madcitylunartic · 05-12-2009, 09:30 PM

Tried it at trade show then researched it...Indirect measurement of tissue, meaning it is guessing based on databases; No correction for your skeletal component or inter-cellular water, again it has to guess as to your bone structure or true water content then factor into result; More difficult to monitor change...lot's of reasons from clothing to hair to your breathing technique to things like room barometrics (if someone opens a nearby door, the BodPod "feels" the pressure change -- like your ear drum); Confined, restricted examination space for 4-8 minutes wearing special attire.

kdjane · 05-13-2009, 05:39 AM

i'm a personal trainer and at our facility we use a bodpod! even in our physiology lab we have a bodpod and a DEXA that measure body composition.

Recently, i've done lab tests on the different ways to measure body composition and to be dead honest, skin calipers are in the top three. if you have someone with experience administer the test the results are quite close to actual.

Bodpod is one of my favorite bc its easy and no water is involved. there is a standard rate of error of about 3% up or down, but this goes with many modes of measuring Body composition.

By far, what i feel will be the new gold standard, is DEXA. it is expensive but very accurate.
we use it in our athletic training facility to work with all of our athletes. it measures fat, bone, water, everything! i'm not sure were you can get one done in your area but you should check into it if money isn't a factor