Body Composition Scales

[barry1010]

Ours must be over 20 years old and have never been satisfactory. They claim to measure body fat but the reading vary wildly from one day to the next. Today they refuse to work at all so it is time to replace them.

Are the newer body composition scales more accurate/reliable? If you have them, your opinion will be much appreciated.

I have been waiting for a hospital appointment to measure my body fat for some time but Covid has delayed things somewhat.

I know many people will say that it isn't important and a cheap pair of weighing scales are enough but it is important to me.

[ToraToraTora]

They are all pretty ***! To measure body composition accurately requires very expensive equipment. For home body fat measurement you are much better off with calipers.

[ToraToraTora]

eg: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61lKkMoJwnL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

[AuntPG]

I got a set and they were terrible. They don't measure fat correctly, they try and distinguish between bone, muscle ,fat and water using algorithms for your age . This won't work if you are a particularly muscular 60 year old, or an unhealthy 20 something. Calipers only measure external fat, and it's the internal fat that can be more serious. There are clinics that you can go to where they have the proper equipment.

[barry1010]

Calipers won't work for me, TTT, as I have a lot of excess skin - even the GP can't do it.

[AuntPG]

https://bodyscanuk.com/
https://www.lbps.co.uk/body-composition-analysis/
https://www.bcom.ac.uk/clinic/health-screening/bodpod-assessments/

[barry1010]

As I said, APG, the hospital has the special equipment and I am waiting for an appointment.
It is the visceral fat that concerns me and I hoped the home scales could help measure that. These scales claim to do it
https://tanita.eu/bc-401/

[AuntPG]

Best read these reviews of the product on Trustpilot Barry
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.tanita.eu

[barry1010]

84% excellent and 16% bad, nothing in between - but that seems to be more about their customer service and not the products.

This is the one I am considering
https://www.johnlewis.com/tanita-bc-401-body-composition-monitor/p4845928

[AuntPG]

It could be the best £78 you have ever spent or the worse. Personally I would wait for the hospital appointment, its not like its life threatening to not know how much fat you are carrying around. False info is just as bad as none.

[barry1010]

You are right, APG :)