21
20
EDUCATION INFORMATION
Before using the scale, you should know ...
1. Why is it important to monitor percentage body fat (%BF)?
The absolute weight traditionally determines whether or not a person is obese.
Weight change in itself does not indicate whether it was the weight of body fat or
muscle that had changed. In weight management, it is desirable that muscle mass
be maintained while body fat is lost. Thus, monitoring the percentage of fat in the
body is an important step toward successful weight management and body health.
2. How is percentage body fat (%BF) estimated?
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
seventies. 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 a
good approximation of your actual body fat. There exist clinical methods of
estimating body fat that can be ordered by your physician.
3. Why is it important to monitor percentage Total Body Water (%TBW) in the body?
Water is an essential component of the body and its level is one of the health
indicators. Water makes up approximately between 50-70% of the body’s weight.
It is present proportionally more in lean tissue compared to fat tissue. Water is a
medium for biochemical reactions that regulate body functions. Waste products
are carried in water from cells for excretion in urine and sweat. Water provides
form to cells; helps to maintain body temperature; provides moisture to skin and
mucosa; cushions vital organs; lubricates joints and is a component of many body
fluids. The amount of water in the body fluctuates with the hydration level of the
body and state of health. Monitoring the level of body water can be a useful tool
for one’s health maintenance. Similar to body fat estimation, the %TBW function
provided in this scale is based on BIA.
The estimated %TBW may vary according to your hydration level, that is, how much
water you have drunk or how much you have sweated immediately prior to the
estimation. For better accuracy, avoid fluctuation in hydration level prior to the
estimation. The accuracy of the scale in estimating TBW will also decrease with
individuals suffering from diseases that tend to accumulate water in the body.
Important Information to Know Before Using Your Scale
Please be reminded that the %TBW estimated with the scale represents only a good
approximation of your TBW. There exist clinical methods of estimating total body
water that can be ordered by your physician.
The optimal %BF and TBW% of an individual varies according to age and gender.
The table as follows may be used as a guide:
Age
30
Fat (F)
4.0 - 16.0%
16.1 - 20.5%
20.6 - 25.0%
25.1 - 30.5%
30.6 - 60.0%
Hydration (F)
66.0 - 57.8%
57.3 - 54.7%
54.6 - 51.6%
51.5 - 47.8%
47.7 - 27.5%
Fat (M)
4.0 - 11%
11.1 - 15.5%
15.6 - 20.0%
20.1 - 24.5%
24.6 - 60.0%
Hydration (M)
66.0 - 61.2%
61.1 - 58.1%
58.0 - 55.0%
54.9 - 51.9%
51.8 - 27.5%
Status
Low
Optimum
Moderate
High
Very High
Age
30
Fat (F)
4.0 - 20.0%
20.1 - 25.0%
25.1 - 30.0%
30.1 - 35.0%
35.1 - 60.0%
Hydration (F)
66.0 - 55.0%
54.9 - 51.6%
51.5 - 48.1%
48.0 - 44.7%
44.6 - 27.5%
Fat (M)
4.0 - 15.0%
15.1 - 19.5%
19.6 - 24.0%
24.1 - 28.5%
28.6 - 60.0%
Hydration (M)
66.0 - 58.4%
58.3 - 55.3%
55.2 - 52.3%
52.2 - 49.2%
49.1 - 27.5%
Status
Low
Optimum
Moderate
High
Very High
4. When should I use the scale’s body fat and total body water functions?
For maximum accuracy and repeatability, it is recommended that the scale’s body
fat and total body water functions be used at approximately the same time of the
day, e.g. before breakfast in the morning. It is also a good practice to avoid swings
in hydration level of the body prior to the estimation. Establishing your own
baseline value of %BF and %TBW and tracking their changes is better than merely
comparing your %BF and %TBW value to the population’s “normal” value.
The estimates provided are not substitutes for physician assessments. Consult your
physician to determine what body fat percentage, total body water percentage,
muscle mass percentage, bone mass percentage and daily calorie intake are most
ideal for you.
