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The percentage of BF is measured by a method called Bioelectrical Impedance
Analysis (BIA). The use of BIA to estimate body fat has been pioneered since the
1970’s. It was only in the past decade that the estimation of body fat using BIA
technology was successfully offered to the consumer as a compact bathroom
scale. With BIA technology, a low intensity electrical signal is sent through the
body. The signal is very low and causes no bodily harm. Depending on the
amount of body fat of the individual, the electrical signal will flow with a different
degree of difficulty. The difficulty with which a signal flows through the body is
called electrical impedance. Hence, by measuring the electrical impedance
and applying to the data a proprietary algorithm, %BF can be estimated. Please
note that the percentage of body fat and body water will not add up to 100%
Please be reminded that the %BF estimated with the scale represents only an
approximation of your actual body fat. There are clinical methods of estimating
body fat that can be ordered by your physician.
