HoMedics SC-902 Educational Information, Why is it important to monitor percentage body fat %BF?

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE USING YOUR BODY FAT SCALE

Before using the scale, you should know ...

1. Why is it important to monitor percentage body fat (%BF)?

The absolute weight traditionally determines whether or not a person is obese. Weight change in itself does not indicate whether it was the weight of body fat or muscle that had changed. In weight management, it is desirable that muscle mass be maintained while body fat is lost. Thus, monitoring the percentage of fat in the body is an important step toward successful weight management and body health.

The optimal %BF of an individual varies according to age and gender. The table as follows may be used as a guide:

2.How is percentage body fat (%BF) estimated?

The percentage of BF is measured by a method called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). The use of BIA to estimate body fat has been pioneered since the seventies. It was only in the past decade that the estimation of body fat using BIA technology was successfully offered to the consumer as a compact bathroom scale. With BIA technology, a low intensity electrical signal is sent through the body. The signal is very low and causes no bodily harm. Depending on the amount of body fat of the individual, the electrical signal will flow with a different degree of difficulty. The difficulty with which a signal flows through the body is called electrical impedance. Hence, by measuring the electrical impedance and applying to the data a proprietary algorithm, %BF can be estimated. Please note that the percentage of body fat and body water will not add up to 100%.

Please be reminded that the %BF estimated with the scale represents only a good approximation of your actual body fat. There exist clinical methods of estimating body fat that can be ordered by your physician.

3.Why is it important to monitor percentage Total Body Water (%TBW) in the body? Water is an essential component of the body and its level is one of the health indicators. Water makes up approximately between 50-70% of the body's weight. It is present proportionally more in lean tissue compared to fat tissue. Water is a medium for biochemical reactions that regulate body functions. Waste products are carried in water from cells for excretion in urine and sweat. Water provides form to cells; helps to maintain body temperature; provides moisture to skin and mucosa; cushions vital organs; lubricates joints and is a component of many body fluids. The amount of water in the body fluctuates with the hydration level of the body and state of health. Monitoring the level of body water can be a useful tool for one's health maintenance. Similar to body fat estimation, the %TBW function provided in this scale is based on BIA.

The estimated %TBW may vary according to your hydration level, that is, how much water you have drunk or how much you have sweated immediately prior to the estimation. For better accuracy, avoid fluctuation in hydration level prior to the estimation. The accuracy of the scale in estimating TBW will also decrease with individuals suffering from diseases that tend to accumulate water in the body.

The optimal %TBW and average %SM of an individual varies according to age and gender. The table as follows may be used as a guide:

Please be reminded that the %TBW estimated with the scale represents only a good approximation of your TBW. There exist clinical methods of estimating total body water that can be ordered by your physician.

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