2
Eng
PRINCIPLES OF ESTIMATING BODY FAT PERCENTAGE
Tanita Body Fat Monitor/Scales allow you to determine your body fat percentage
at home as easily as you measure your weight.
What is Body Fat Percentage?
Body fat percentage is the percentage of fat in your body. Too much body fat has
been linked to conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes,
cancer, and other disabling conditions.
18–39
40–59
60–99
Healthy
Overfat
Obese
Underfat
Healthy
Overfat
Obese
Underfat
Based on NIH/WHO BMI Guidelines.
As reported by Gallagher, et al,
at NY Obesity Research Center.
To determine the percentage of body fat
that is appropriate for your body,
consult your physician.
10%
0%
20%
30%
40%
18–39
40–59
60–99
Female
Body Fat Ranges
for Standard Adults
Age
Male
Age
1, 2
1
2
Tanita’s patented “foot-
pad” design sends a
safe, low-level electrical
signal through the body to
determine its composition.
The BIA Method
Tanita Body Fat Monitor/Scales use the BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis)
technique. In this method, a safe, low-level electrical signal is passed through
the body. It is difficult for the signal to flow through fat in the human body, but
easy to flow through moisture in the muscle and other body tissues. The difficulty
with which a signal flows through a substance is called impedance. So the more
resistance, or impedance, the signal encounters, the higher the body fat reading.
Hydration Fluctuations
Hydration levels in the body may affect body fat readings. Readings are usually
highest in the early waking hours, since the body tends to be dehydrated after
a long night’s sleep. For the most accurate reading using BIA, a person should
take a body fat percentage reading at a consistent time of day under consistent
conditions. Besides this basic cycle of fluctuations in the daily body fat readings
using BIA, variations may be caused by hydration changes in the body due to
eating, drinking, menstruation, illness, exercising, and bathing. Daily body fat
readings are unique to each person, and depend upon one’s lifestyle, job and
activities.
Summary of Contents for UM-028F
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