Whether you exercise a lot or have a healthy diet, you probably expect to end up looking better, get some definition for your muscle and perhaps lose some fat. But then, there are times when the scale stops budging. You stagnate, and no matter what you do, you just cannot progress. At this point, it might be time to assess the body fat percentage and work on it.
When trying to lose weight, you are actually trying to lose fat. You do not want to burn muscle, but calories and fat. Therefore, measuring body fat is just as important as weighing yourself. The stagnation is often given by the fact that a regular gym may also build muscle, which is denser than fat. You can see results, but the scale shows the same number. If you go to the gym a lot, you may have noticed some of those scales that provide more measurements and can also check body fat. The good news is you no longer need to put coins in to measure everything – instead, you can do it yourself with a smart scale. But then, are smart scales worth it? Are they actually accurate? How smart scales work
Body fat smart scales are straightforward and do not require any experience at all. Practically, you step on that scale, and you end up with a tool measuring the actual weight, as well as the body fat based on a series of parameters. Now, the results on body fat and other parameters are measured with some sensors located under your feet.
These sensors rely on bioelectrical impedance to provide such results. As you step on that scale, a small electrical current will go through the leg and over the pelvis. It will measure the resistance given by body fat. The current is insignificant, and this is why you do not feel anything. But then, this is also why these scales ask you to jump on them without any shoes on. The current will then travel back to your other leg – again, the resistance from fat is fully measured. The information will be displayed on a screen or printed on a small note. Smarter scales will also connect to smartwatches or smartphones. To help you get an idea about the operating principles, the more body resistance the current meats, the more body fat you have.
What are the benefits of smart scales?If you tend to spend money weighing yourself once a month in your local gym, you would rather do it at home, whenever you want. Once you get the scale, the measurement is free. But then, these scales are not 100% accurate, so you may want to consider other ways to measure your health too.
On another note, the smart scale will give you a number – a percentage, for example. You will get a rough idea about how much body fat you have. But then, other variables and parameters are not taken into consideration. For instance, the scale will not tell you where this fat is located – you can probably see most of it yourself anyway. From a medical point of view, a doctor would not necessarily be concerned about total body fat. Instead, they would be more worried about the fat located around the midsection because it can increase the risk of various health issues. Again, while you will not get a very accurate idea, the good news is that you can see where most of this body fat is located. How accurate are body fat scales?
Are smart scales worth it? Before making a decision, you need to know how accurate they are too. Generally speaking, you will get some rough estimates. You will not be able to get a very precise number. Sure, you can work around the results, optimize your diet and workouts. There are more variables that can affect the final result, though. Here are some of them:
Body fat vs. BMI explained
BMI stands for the body mass index. From a personal trainer's point of view, this might be a more reliable indicator of the fitness condition – more specific than jumping on a smart scale too. When measuring the body mass index, you will not measure the body fat, though. But then, you can determine whether or not you are in a healthy weight range for your age – as well as your height.
Here are some safe recommendations regarding the BMI in adults:
The BMI is far from being extremely reliable because there are factors that can make the measurement inaccurate. For instance, women tend to have higher levels of body fat. Older adults go in the same category. While not a general rule, it seems that people of Asian descent often go in the exact same category. Other ways to measure body fat
Before deciding, you should know that there are other ways to keep an eye on body fat too. Sure, they may not be as convenient as your own smart scale – at home, whenever you want to do it. But then, some of these alternatives may provide a bit of extra accuracy to your measurements.
Final words
Bottom line, smart scales are worth it. While they cannot provide the most accurate measurement in the world, fitness enthusiasts will appreciate seeing their body fat go down after a month of cardio workouts or during a cutting cycle.
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March 2022
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