Whats the most accurate fat tester tool?

I just bought a scale that measures weight as well as body fat by sending some time of Bio electrical wave through your body. Does anyone know if these type of scales are accurate? ALso what do you guys think would be the most accurate means of measuring body fat?

Yes, i have heard they are actually very accurate.

As for most accurate, i think they have like machines that can get it in the hospital, but most sensible method would be calliper for BF%

Caliper in home testing like Accur-Measure as Gun Ryo mentions or Hydrostatic testing (aka Dunk Tanks).

Those electrical impedence things don't always work well. In fact, I've found them to be very inaccurace.

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

1. The most accurate would be a Cadaver analysis... but then you'd be dead.
2. Next is a DEXA (Dual energy Xray Analysis) or CAT scan.... obviously expensive.
3. Then is the Densitometry (dunk tank) but not practical home use
4. Skinfold measurements... Most accurate home usable
5. Bioelectric resistance... what you have in that scale.

Skinfold measurements can be very accurate if you minimize human error.

RIP Joshy.

Eat for the Body you Want. Not the Body you Have.

"May reason be My Guide.
May my Will be My Strength.
May Love be My Foundation."
-Gilbrando

Its a bioelectrical scale. So fat it measured me at 16.2 percent bodyfat. I'm going to try my bodyfat again in the morning to see its accuracy.

Actually what you really want in a bodyfat measurement method is not so much accuracy as consistency. The resistance method is subject to electrolyte changes from day to day, sweat, water content, etc. The calipers, though not the most accurate, are extremely consistent day-to-day and will give you an accurate indication of any changes in your body composition. You are seeking differences in your bodyfat, not specific readings. The calipers will detect losses and gains much better than electrical resistance, giving you a good idea of your actual progress.

RIP 2004-2007

i too have purchased one of those electronic scale/BF analyzers. It has been VERY inconsistent. Varying sometimes 10% day to day. After reading the box more carefully it says they are accurate with people of average size who . DO NOT, have a lot of muscle. And as it was previously stated your water content from day to day effects the readings. I'd say just pay to get dunked once every couple months to get an accurate reading. Just my HO (humble Opinion)

Mr. Orange,

Can't agree more. Today I did one of those handheld units and it said I was 20% BF.

Bull!

Pinch test has been consistent at 15%. Those things are just +/- 5%. Total crap.

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

My doctor had a electric thing for the thumbs, it said 49.8% . I may be fat but i'm not that fat. That would mean i have 140 lbs of lean mass. I'm 6'0" 280 and more muscular than the average person.

in my case ive found the scales to be very consistent and helpful.
i bought a Tanita BF-681 and it works great.
but you need to measure yourself at roughly the same time every day.
your hydration level plays a big part and if you weighed yourself three times a day you would get three different readings
but they are all within a couple of % points. to get the the most accurate results, dont weigh yourself first thing in the morning.

Every day is my best day; this is my life.
I'm not going to have this moment again.
-Bernie Siegal

This is my take on it. I just copied and pasted from this thread

Actually, from what I've read, you don't want to weigh (rather BF wise) yourself in the morning due to being asleep w/o any real hydration.

I purchased the Tanita Body Fat scale Model 578. I originally ordered the Tanita 679 but later cancelled due to back order. Tanita's known (from what I've researched anyway) as one of the more accurate scales on the market. One thing I was specifically looking for was incraments in % and lbs. For instance, a lot of the scales I found under 50 dollars (retail) counted BF% in 1% increments. I wanted a scale that would offer more, and both of the above mentioned models counts BF in .1% Increments. I've seen some others offering .5% as well. Matter of preference really.

That particular scale does not mention the BF% increment but it sounds like probably 1%. If I were you, I'd type the model and maker into a search engine w/ "review" and check out what other people have said about it. I did that w/ my Tanita scale and am quite happy w/ it.
I always weigh myself when I get home after work. That way I'm always weighing myself hydrated, and away from anything that might raise my heartbeat (avoiding post workout readings).


I dont' know if your scale included specific instructions for measuring BF for women, but it's different than it is for men. In general though, You always want to weigh yourself in the afternoon, never in the morning. You'll always get skewed results.

Also, during the menstrul cycle, your results are always going to be pretty off, considering the water retention and other things I don't know about (in regards to the cycle). Also, I dont' know if you were already doing this, but you always want to measure your BF% with no clothes on. Clothes can also skew results. Take any jewelry off as well. Make sure to empty your bladder too. I know it's a lot to factor in, but remember it's done from an electrical signal shot through your body, so such factors can really play into it.

I've had my BF measured with a PT and with my scale, and both were pretty close to one another. So I know that at least MY scale is pretty accurate.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!


"Did you dad ever make you put a banana in your shorts?"
~Vernon Dozier - Phil Hendrie Show

i just bought fat calipers and i have no idea how to use them. does anyone have directions and the formulas for  fat calipers?

here ya go
 
http://www.bblex.de/en/calc/dw4folds.php

ok i have fat calipers but how hard do you press when checking fat locations? Depending how hard or light you press can effect how large or small your measurements are. 

I bought some bio electrical scales because I thought they would be more accurate than a caliper.  I thought that a caliper wouldn't be accurate because different people store fat in different places. e.g my top half is toned, but I have a great big fat ass, which is not toned.