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2.1 The measuring principle of the diagnos-
tic scale
This scale measures body weight, and also
the percentage body water, body fat and
muscle mass according to the B.I.A. (bio-
electric impedance analysis) principle.
Here, within seconds, the body composi-
tion is measured by means of an unnotice-
able, completely harmless current. With this
measurement of the electric resistance (im-
pedance) and taking into account the con-
stant factors/individual values (age, height,
gender, level of activity), the percentage of
fat, water and muscle of the body can be
determined. Muscle tissue and water have
good electric conductivity and therefore
have a lower resistance. Fat tissue, however,
has a lower conductivity, since the fat cells
hardly conduct current due to the very high
resistance.
Transparent electrodes integrated in the
standing area:
New innovative technologies are used to
manufacture a transparent and, at the same
time, conductive glass coating.
This coating is used for 4 fields on this scale,
which act as electrodes for the impedance
measurement in order to determine the per-
centage body fat, body water and muscle.
The values, displayed in percent, indicate the
respective percentage of the total weight.
Together with the large-area buttons, which
can be pressed with the foot, the advantage
of this technology becomes clear, and clean-
ing is much easier compared to standard
electrodes.
2.2 Weighing correctly
Try to always weigh yourself at the same
time of day (best would be in the morning),
after using the bathroom, on an empty stom-
ach and without clothing, in order to get
comparable results. Only the long-term trend
counts. Short-term weight deviations within a
few days are usually only due to fluid loss:
Body water only plays a major role for your
feeling of well being, however. The interpre-
tation of the results is oriented toward the
changes in:
1. total weight
2. percentage body fat
3. percentage body water
4. percentage muscle mass
as well as toward the period of time in which
these changes take place. Fast changes in the
day-range are to be distinguished from me-
dium-term changes (week-range) and long-
term changes (month-range). A rule of thumb
is that short-term weight fluctuations are al-
most always due to changes in water content,
while medium- and long-term changes can
also involve body fat and muscle.
– If weight goes down short-term, but the
body fat percentage goes up or remains the
same, you have only lost water, e.g. after
exercising, going to the sauna or if you’ve
been on a limiting diet for fast weight loss.
– If your weight goes up in the medium term,
but the body fat goes down or remains the
same, you might have built up valuable
muscle mass or you may have an increased
accumulation of body water (e.g. as a re-
sult of taking medicine or weakening heart
function of older people).
– When weight and the body fat percentage
go down at the same time, your diet is
working – you are losing body fat. Ideally,
you should support your diet with physical
activity, fitness training or weight lifting.
You can increase your percent muscle
mass in the medium term this way.
And don’t forget: Physical activity is the basis
for a healthy body.
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2 Interesting facts and information
