Guest guest Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Yes, the tanita will be quite variable since it actually measures our conductivity which is also influenced by hydration, skin moisture, and electrolyte balance. Parameters which are much more volatile and will vary much more widely (pun intended :-) than true fat mass. If you get consistent readings you live a consistent life. As I reported yesterday the simple act of urination created an impossible, or if you grant tolerance errors, improbable measured changes (expressing pure fat!). While I agree there is not a clear target for what an optimal amount of BF is (Walford does suggest a lower limit). In general I suspect less is better until we approach not enough (moderation always). Our adipose mass is more than just simple energy storage. It has been speculated that in the lower life forms we evolved from the fat mass served as the primary system for generating hormones and other useful stuff. Now that we've evolved specific organs to cover those needs, some of that activity is redundant. While most texts describe Vit D production as occurring in the skin I wonder if fat stored immediately below the skin layer has something to do with it too. Vit D is fat soluble so fat may be involved in transport and perhaps as a source of raw material. Even if there is a connection, I doubt we could reduce fat levels low enough to interfere with Vit D production and suspect other more significant problems would show up first so doubt any studies exist. A fairly recent line of research that I find interesting, links inflammation and some immune activity to excess adipose mass. While not the only one, this may be a significant vector influencing obesity related disorders. Obese = inflamed, take two aspirin call me if you live. CR'd = low fat, live long with low inflammation. Of course I could be wrong... JR PS: I am inclined to offer somewhat different advice regarding purchasing a tanita. I enjoy mine, (boys and their toys) but don't consider the fat measurement useful other than as relative metric. I suspect the guts are similar between the cheapest and most expensive, so buy the cheapest. -----Original Message-----From: Jeff Novick [mailto:jnovick@...]Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 10:27 AM Subject: RE: [ ] Re: Using Tanita Bodyfat scale Sorry, the "over" estimate is in my case. They were found to do both. I am copying the analysis here as its only availble with a password online. January 2004 Body-fat scales: Will they help? Concerns about fat and obesity have spawned a new kind of bathroom scale, one that gives your weight and uses a weak electric current to measure the amount of fat on your frame. Some manufacturers claim that body-fat percentage, which the scales measure, is key to health and fitness. But our tests suggest that the scales are not the most reliable measure of body fat. Meanwhile, our consultants--who have done the best research yet into the link between fat and health--say it’s a mistake to make too strong a connection between health and the amount of body fat you have. "The connection between body fat and health outcome has defied a simple answer," says B. Heymsfield, M.D.,co-director of the body-composition laboratory at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, in New York. "That’s why there is not a standard for health based on body fat." MEASURING BODY FAT For years, people have gauged obesity with the body-mass index, or BMI. The formula considers height and weight, but not body-fat percentage. BMI is your weight in pounds times 703, divided by the square of your height in inches. To reckon your BMI, go to www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. Large long-term studies of people in many countries have shown that those with a BMI below 25 have lower rates of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and overall mortality than do people with a BMI of 25 or more. A BMI of 30 or more means you’re obese; your risk of disease and death rises more sharply. Researchers have begun to relate measures of body fat with BMI calculations. However, no one knows what a healthy body-fat amount is, despite claims from the manufacturers of some body-fat scales. When you step barefoot on a body-fat scale’s metal footpads, a minuscule electrical current--much too low for you to feel--passes up one leg, through your pelvis, and down the other leg. The amount of resistance that the current encounters depends on the proportion of fat and muscle tissue. From this information, the scale uses built-in formulas to estimate fat content. In practice, the scales we tested were mediocre; you shouldn’t take their readings too literally. When compared with an accurate laboratory measure of body fat, the best scale hit the mark for only about 80 percent of the volunteers who tried it. The scales sometimes understated a volunteer’s body fat, sometimes overstated it. There was no way to predict which way the scales would err. At least they were consistent, though. They always over- or understated a person’s body fat by the same amount. HOW TO CHOOSE Decide how much motivation you need. A body-fat scale is unlikely to give you more useful information than your BMI. But a scale’s readings, even if inaccurate, may provide needed motivation --especially as you build weighty muscle while shedding fat. Balance body-fat and weight readings. If you’re going to buy one of these scales, make sure it scored well in weight accuracy. Most were at least good. Look for important features. These matter the most: • Multiple-user memory. Most can store personal data for 2 users. Others can store as many as 10 profiles. The hardest to use, the Tanita Ultimate Scale, requires users to enter data each time. • Special modes. A few have a "guest" mode so that someone else can check body fat. One has an "athlete" mode for those who work out a lot. • Long warranty. A few offer a warranty lasting 10 years or more. The best body-fat scale we tested was within 5 percentage points of our laboratory standard for only about 80 percent of the people who tried it. We found no correlation between a scale’s ability to measure body fat accurately and its ability to give accurate weights. However, because these scales give consistent readings, they can provide the information and motivation you may need to achieve your fat-reduction goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 JR I agree with your comments on BF and the Tanita. I think we can go too low as fat does play more of a role than just stored energy. And, while the CU report was not encouraging, I have one for many years and enjoy it. Regards jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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