I use this Body composition and Weight Measurer from Omron.

I was wondering how accurate it is. I weighed myself and checked my bodyfat after 2 hours from breakfast. anyone knows?

I use this Body composition and Weight Measurer from Omron.

I was wondering how accurate it is. I weighed myself and checked my bodyfat after 2 hours from breakfast. anyone knows?

Devices that use bioimpedance, such as the Omron, are pretty goofy under lots of circumstances.

Devices that use bioimpedance, such as the Omron, are pretty goofy under lots of circumstances.

hmmm i guess so. my bodyfat was 44% with that machine. and i don't think that it could be that much. err

hmmm i guess so. my bodyfat was 44% with that machine. and i don't think that it could be that much. err

44% bodyfat is pretty noticable.

I have an older Omron body fat monitor that I've had for a few years now. I still use and and am pretty happy with it overall.

The problem is that they can give you pretty different results at any given time during the day. The best way to get a reading from it is to use it at the same time of the day every day. For example, I use mine right after using the bathroom after I wake up, but before taking a shower, eating, or drinking anything. This is when your body is at its "driest" and will give you the most consistent reading going from day to day.

Basically the meter is going to measure your resistance to electrical current and apply that to a formula which usually is based of your weight and height. Moisture, both inside and outside of the body will have a major impact on the reading.

A weight scale has the same problem. I usually gain a few pounds of water weight throughout the day, so I take my weight measurements at the same time after waking too.

Because of water weight and its effect on electrical impedance it will throw both of these measurements off from day to day, it is best to take an average of the last 5-10 days. This will take these daily water weight fluctuations out of the equation and can show you a real trend of where your weight and fat percentage are headed.

hmmm i guess so. my bodyfat was 44% with that machine. and i don't think that it could be that much. err

Remember to also make sure to set it as accurate as possible to all the correct height, weight, age, and sex settings...do not use the guest mode. Make a setting for yourself that you can change each time you use it if your weight changes, or age (My age changed Monday)

There are 2 other settings on mine...Athletic and Normal. This is very important.

I was tested by a friend of mine that is a gym teacher at a high school, and he stated that I would set mine as athletic since I run, play basketball, and workout several times a week, when I got mine.

The difference is definitely noticeable if you have it set to the wrong setting.

I use this Body composition and Weight Measurer from Omron.

I was wondering how accurate it is. I weighed myself and checked my bodyfat after 2 hours from breakfast. anyone knows?

Agree with Zen on this one. In fact he was being far more kind that I would.
Devices that use impedance to measure bodyfat are junk...

Experiment:
Do a measurement
- Take a shower
-Do another measurement after the shower

I'll bet they are different....the point is that the measurements can vary wildy based upon hydration, persperation, etc....

Get some BF calipers and learn how to use them properly. You will get much more reliable results...:nod: not to mention the money you will save....

I have the same experience as Winston_one. I feel I can use mine accurately.

If they were any use, then why do they ask for your age, height, sex etc, it strikes me that they're generating readings simply on the basis of what the average readings are for persons of particular height, age and sex for the bodyweight in question.

If they were any use, then why do they ask for your age, height, sex etc, it strikes me that they're generating readings simply on the basis of what the average readings are for persons of particular height, age and sex for the bodyweight in question.

Well there is nothing in principle wrong with them using as much side information to reduce error as much as possible. There are certainly lots of people with the same data you would input who have different body fat percentages, so the bioimpedance is still used in the result.

But the problem is that bioimpedance depends on a lot of things (as noted hydration, perspiration, etc.) that you don't easily control.

There are expensive clinical bioimpedance devices which might be better than the Tanitas and Omrons sold for consumer use.

If they were any use, then why do they ask for your age, height, sex etc, it strikes me that they're generating readings simply on the basis of what the average readings are for persons of particular height, age and sex for the bodyweight in question.

Well like I said I have one...I think the reason it asks for all of this information is because you hold it with pressing your palms no the handles, it is not a weight scale to measure B/F.

I use it not really to give me such an accurate measurement as I would get from a professional piece of equipment that would cost thousands of dollars.

I use it as a tool to see how much progress I am making, besides what my mirror shows me. I like to be able to look at the numbers as well...it gives me reassurance, and a tool to see my progress on a weekly/monthly basis.

I think it depends on how you use it.

Well like I said I have one...I think the reason it asks for all of this information is because you hold it with pressing your palms no the handles, it is not a weight scale to measure B/F.

I use it not really to give me such an accurate measurement as I would get from a professional piece of equipment that would cost thousands of dollars.

I use it as a tool to see how much progress I am making, besides what my mirror shows me. I like to be able to look at the numbers as well...it gives me reassurance, and a tool to see my progress on a weekly/monthly basis.

I think it depends on how you use it.


I can see the point you're making, it doesn't matter if the bf% reading is 100 percent accurate, you can still use the device to track progress.

That said, I'd be concerned that given it seems the readings can vary wildly depending on hydration, that it could skew the real picture - eg. say you're making great progress shedding fat, but cos of hydration variables you get a reading that shows your bf% is 5 percent higher than 2 weeks ago. You might think fuck, I'm making a mess of things and change your programme when in reality you were doing fine, or even get disillusioned and give up completely. Or opposite scenario you're making a mess of your fat loss programme and you're not shedding much or even adding fat, but you get a reading that's 5 percent less then 2 weeks ago - you jump for joy and think you're doing great when in reality you're not.

I guess if you're using a consistent method of measurement, like ensuring as far as you can hydration levels are the same each time you measure, this will cut down on discrepancies. The uninitiated though could be getting a skewed picture from these devices.

I use it as a tool to see how much progress I am making, besides what my mirror shows me.

Then just use anything as your measure. Spend the money on the best mirror set ups you can devise. Let someone take weekly pictures at all angles.

Do we really want the evil witch's mirror from the Snow White tale that will tell us we are the fairest in the land to the decimal point?

Do we really want the evil witch's mirror from the Snow White tale that will tell us we are the fairest in the land to the decimal point?


That mirror actually told the witch the truth. So there is little danger of the Omron being that.