Body Fat Scales

Measuring your body fat percent can be as easy as standing on a scale. Body Fat Scales work by sending a mild electrical current up one leg, and then down the other, and measuring the resistance encountered by the current along the way. The current will move freely through the fluids in the muscle tissue, but will have more difficulty travelling through fat.

The advantage of this method is simplicity. It doesn’t get easier than standing on a set of scales! The main disadvantage is the reports of inaccuracies using this method. One of the speculated reasons is the reliance on hydration levels. Using an electrical current means that the reading can vary based on how much you’ve had to drink prior to stepping on the scales. The other main complaint is that it only estimates the percentage based on the lower half of your body, and as fat distribution varies, people who are ‘top heavy’ may not be getting the best reading.