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Are Electronic Bodyfat Scales Good for Tracking Weight Loss Results?
Aug 2Question:
I have a scale that measures body fat via an electric pulse. What do you think about those? Should I have some measurements taken with skinfold calipers?
Answer:
I would take the results you see from your scale with a grain of salt.
These scales work by measuring the amount of electrical resistance in your body by passing a small current from one foot to the other. Muscle has more water than fat does and because of this it is a better electrical conductor, which is how the actual scale numbers are then calculated.
The results can be easily skewed by how much water you’ve drank and what you’ve eaten, e.g. foods with salt in them will decrease your readings. If you want to look like you’re dropping bodyfat fast on these scales, drink a lot of water and eat some bacon or ham. This will increase the electrical conductivity of your body, reading that you have less bodyfat than you actually do!
One other thing to note is that the current takes the shortest possible route through your body so if you are just standing on a scale, the scale is only measuring your LOWER body.If you carry more fat in your legs, your overall bodyfat levels will show up as higher than they actually are. If you carry more in the upper body, your bodyfat readings will show on this scale as lower than then actually are.
The best scales will actually have an electrode that runs current from your hand down to your opposite foot. This passes the current through your whole body rather than just part of it.
That being said, these scales can be useful if you use them at the exact same time everyday. I would recommend getting on the scale first thing in the morning right after you wake up, before you eat or drink anything. Just keep in mind that the results you are seeing are only an estimate based on the electrical resistance in your body, not necessarily bodyfat.
Skinfold calipers will give you a more accurate reading of bodyfat. If you’re on a fat loss program right now, I would definitely recommend using calipers and how your clothes fit (and even the mirror!) rather than using bodyfat scales to measure your results.
Tags: Weight Loss, bodyfat, fat loss program
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