Body fat percentage scales use a method known as bioelectrical impedance bia to estimate your body composition. The current study aimed to compare the estimates of body fat percentage bf by performing bioelectrical impedance analysis bia and dual energy x ray absorptiometry dxa in a sample of obese or overweight chinese adults who participated in a weight loss randomized control trial stratified by gender to determine whether or not bia is a valid measurement tool. In part 1 of this series you learned about how body fat testing is a prediction not a measurement. The impedance index is obtained by applying a small alternating current on the body based on the principle that the body contains water and that the level of electric resistivity ie resistance changes according to the amount of water in the body. However the convienience of this method comes at a price of accuracy. Few of the most commonly used techniques include bia adp hwd dexa and skinfold caliper.
They run a light electrical current through your body measure the degree of resistance or impedance to the flow of the current then use this information to estimate your body fat percentage 2. The market comprises of products that can be classified on the basis of different methods of body fat measurement and body composition analysis. Since fat loss is the goal when people set out to lose weight and muscle gain is the goal when people set out to gain weight the nutritionists of healthy directions monitor body composition changes fat weight vs. Focusing on body fat percentage instead of weight is much more useful to track fat loss progress. In the late 1980s the bia method was a single frequency whole body impedance measurement. Most body water is stored in muscle.
Here are the 10 best ways to measure your body fat percentage. Quantities of fat mass and fat free mass by running a small electrical current through the body. In part 2 you learned about underwater weighing and in part 3 you learned about the bod pod. Few other nominally used techniques are interactance and body composition analysis using ct and mri scans. Lean fat free weight rather than monitor people. Bia also provides a measurement of fluid and body mass that can be a critical assessment tool for your current state of health.
Now lets talk about bia. Bioelectrical impedance analysis bia is able to make an estimation of body composition eg. Muscle fat bone etc all have varying amounts of water content and as a result they all differ in terms of electrical conductivity. According to willett and co workers 2006 bia or bioelectrical impedance analysis involves passing a weak current across the extremities hands and feet to measure body composition. Bioelectrical impedance analysis bia is a commonly used method for estimating body composition in particular body fat and muscle massin bia a weak electric current flows through the body and the voltage is measured in order to calculate impedance resistance of the body. This is possible simply because different bodily tissues eg.
Bioelectrical impedance bia bia is one of the quickest and easiest methods for predicting body fat.