Results from portable body fat analyzers can vary depending on many factors however including the quality of the device and how hydrated you are when the measurement is taken. Since they are based on a two compartment model they suffer from all the problems associated with a two compartment model.
An Easy And Accurate Way To Measure Your Body Composition
How accurate are the handheld body fat calculators. Handheld body fat monitors measure body fat by a process called bioelectrical impedance analysis or bia. Normal ranges for bmi accuracy of handheld machines. If youre concerned about your body fat percentage skip the commercially available body fat analyzers and ask your doctor about the use of more accurate measurement techniques. The commonly seen hand held or scales are called segmental body fat analysers measures one half of the body and the equations used in these are yet to be validated. Ive measured myself on the same day with two different ones and got answers over 5 apart from each other. Remember or learn these handheld readers only take into account the bodyfat in your thoracic cavity.
The healthy range for body fat for women is between 19 and 32 percent. You can purchase scales that use this type of technology as well as handheld devices that measure from hand to leg finger to finger hand to hand or leg to leg. Also they tend to have about a 3 margin of error. According to the american college of sports medicine bia measures body fat with the same. Also the readers can be thrown off by hydration and food levels skin perspiration breathing weird making funny faces and the wind. That said if you use the same machine over time and it goes up then your bf probably is going up even if the exact number isnt right.
For men its from 16 to 25 percent.
Gallery of How Accurate Are The Handheld Body Fat Calculators
