The gym where I work out is getting this thing called a "BOD POD" that measures bf%. It kind of looks like a giant egg with a hole cut in the front. Anyone use one of these before? Any comments, good, bad or otherwise?

I have not used these. A lot of people call this the gold standard, but without any backing. Basically, because it is a big piece of equipment and used in universities, the assumption is that this is more accurate. The reality is that, like many other testing methods, the data is based on averages across the general population. So if you are the average American - sedentary and borderline obese - then you will probably get a good score. If you are fit and active or approaching lower body fat, I wouldn't waste your $$$. My coach, David Greenwalt, was preparing for a show and had measured himself with calipers at 6% body fat. Now, we could argue all day what the exact body fat was - you could see his abs, veins on his torso, separation between muscle, etc - basically, you could not pinch an inch on him. He tells me he went to see what the Bod Pod would test him at. After submerging, etc, and going through the ordeal, guess what? It clocked him well over 10% - I believe something like 12 or 13! It was wayyy off in his case.

Like other methods, it has its inherent errors.

Bod Pod - requires that you exhale as it tests volume, so results can very just on your ability to clear your lungs

Calipers - depends on where you store your fat and how well the technician is at taking consistent "pinches"

Bioelectric - uses resistance, and while the equations are based on correlations with fat, water balance, food, sodium balance, etc can all affect the readings

Jeremy

thanks for the info jeremy. i think the gym (bally's) is going to charge $30 for this, so i think i'll save my money. what do you think is the most reliable method?

I just saw the Bod Pod (http://www.bodpod.com/p_bodAbout.php) linked on Gizmodo, so I did some googling on it. I forgot about this thread, but found it when searching.

Thought I'd pass on some new info I found about it. All of the research universities around here (National Institutes of Health, Georgetown, GWU, etc) all have the Bod Pod. It's a $115,000 machine. :d_eek:

This site (http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/1025.htm) summarizes research findings on the Bod Pod. It's not too positive. I may try it out anyway, because I can try it at GWU where they conducted two of those studies of its effectiveness. I've wasted my money on much sillier things!