Hi All,
I've just had my body fat % etc measured (on one of the Boots weighing machines). Not only am I a lot heavier than I thought (by 1/2 stone) compared to my home scales, my body fat is way over what it should be!
I didn't think I ate a lot of fat - I'm veggie and don't overdo the cheese - I do try to exercise regulary by walking and going to the gym.
Has anyone got any advice on what I should be doing? I thought I was doing ok until now I'm not very overweight either!
Many thanks,
Kaz

Are you sure the machine was accurate?? Surely your home scales cant be out by 1/2 stone. Also remember that the time of day and point in your monthly cycle will affect your weight (varying it by up to 10lbs!) as well as muscle weighing more than fat, and so the calculater inside the Boots machine will be thrown off.
Before you become too depressed with your "body fat %" I would book an appointment with your GP who will acuratly measure your fat using thoose clipper things (sorry dont know the name!) And then possibly get an appointment with a personal trainer at the gym to help you get some new workout ideas.
From the sounds of it your fit and healthy so I think the machine has given you a false reading!

How do you know that the Boots machine is more accurate than your homes scales?

I am reminded of a survey carried out some years ago which discovered that most airlines at petrol stations were inaccurate, some by an enormous factor.

Probably the only way you will get a true weight is by using some old-fashioned scales - the type where you move weights along a bar. Does your doctor's surgery have them?

Thanks for the advice, just had a bit of a shock as I can't believe my bf% could be 34%!! I'm due for a check up at the doctors so I'll ask if they can measure my body fat as well. I'll be interested to see what the nurse says and let you know if the Boots scales were out.
Kaz

I remember when I was pregnant with my daughter 12 years ago they insisted on weighing me at the antenatal checks. I used to hate it as it was middle of the afternoon, after lunch, and with loads of maternity clothes on. I was about half a stone over my scales at home. I've got 2 scales (one a newer digital one) and they both give the same weight (on the concrete floor, first thing in the morning) so I know that's an accurate weight.

BTW they've stopped weighing you now at antenatal - never had it when preg with son 8 years ago.

Well, weighed myself at home and I do weigh what the boots scales said - I've obviously had too many Easter Eggs and not enough exercise. Oh well, back to the gym and off the choccy and other such nice things. How come the nicest foods are always the worst for you?
Fingers crossed I can lose a bit this week, very frustrating this trying to get fit and lose weight lark!
kaz

I had a horrible shock on the Boots new scales with my body fat as well, although I have a normal BMI (admittedly at the top end of normal!) my fat levels were horrendous. I'm curious as to how they actually work - how does gripping a handle measure fat? Incidently I have far stronger legs than arms as my legs do far more work (bad I know, must get back in the pool).

Good idea to get it checked at the docs, will do that.

And my electronic home scales do tally with the Boots ones, once I've allowed 3 pounds for clothes at Boots.

Hi Jane,
How odd - maybe it is their measuring that's out? I think body fat is measured by passing a slight electrical current through the body. I am convinced they must be wrong as I'm not overweight, my waist is under the measurements for diabetes etc and I don't eat a lot of fatty foods. Ah well, I'll find out when I see the nurse.
K

I think these results can be affected by things like how sweaty were your hands, how much water teh body is retaining on that day etc etc. It's true that they pass a slight electrical current through your body and then measures the resistance. Resistance can be affected in SO many ways from contact resistance (you touching the sensors) to water as I've said above.

I use scales I stand on at the gym and even though my diet now is very healthy, my weight is falling and my body is becoming a little better toned, the scales reported that I had put on 1% body fat since the last time I did it 3 weeks ago. But I know that day my feet weren't at all sweaty (I had only just changed and hadn't done any exercise at that point) and I hadn't drunk much water at all that day (made up for it during the workout though! lol).

So I wouldn't get too hung up on the Body Fat %age "fluctuation". And don't forget, it's only an indication because if you are holding the sensors you are only measuring the fat between your arms and your chest. Just like I only really measure it up and down my legs plus pelvic and bottom area.

Daz

At the moment I'm finding that my body fat % almost mirrors my bmi.

wow Daz, thanks for the explaination. I wonder if men and women get different readings then as women have more fat on their chests and arms? I do drink a lot of water as our office is air conditioned. It seems to me that none of these devices are really accurate1
Kaz

It can also go by height and age as well. With my scales you have to programme in your age, height and gender. They also recommend to

do it at the same time of the day pref in the afternoon
wait 2-3 hours after meals
wait up to 12 hours after a strenuous workout
and after a visit to the bathroom

Not to be used if pregnant, have a pacemaker or any other battery driven medi device.

Men and women should have totally different amounts of body fat. I have Tanita scales at home and they recommend that men take an average over 7 days, but women (due to monthly cycles) should take readings for a month to get an accurate indication.

On a daily basis, depending on the time of day, I can get a difference of 3 or 4% on the reading. The best thing to do is to do it late afternoon and make sure you are well hydrated as this makes a difference (also doing it in the early part of the day means you will get a higher reading as the water in your body has not redistributed itself after sleeping overnight).

The point of montitoring fat is that you really can't tell just by looking how much of a person is muscles and how much is fat. BMI only goes by weight, and two people with the same BMI can have dramatically difference fat percentages.

It's all very interesting, and also very confusing! Thanks everyone for your help, if anything I feel less inclined to get hung up about it
K

Can I just add my belated thanks to those of you who answered my post. Having visited my osteopath on Monday, I was somewhat reassured when she told me I had extremely good muscle tone in my legs (whilst doing unspeakable things to my arthritic right knee)! I also drinks gallons of water and herbal tea so probably do have a high water content.

J

Just a further note on the bf% debate - there are studies now that show you can be slim and have a high % of bf - it is internal body fat so not visible.

I think the scales are accurate as it sends that signal round your body, taking into account age, weight etc. and it is supposed to know the difference between muscle, water as some can give you figures on these things aswell.