The 4 compartment model is currently the gold standard when it comes to predicting body composition and is the benchmark against which other body fat tests are compared. Most body water is stored in muscle. Limited information is available but some 3 d scanners may be fairly accurate with errors of around 4 body fat. They compared several body fat tests including bioelectrical impedance the technology used in body fat scales with something called the 4 compartment model. Body fat equations and electrical bioimpedance values in prediction of cardiovascular risk factors in eutrophic and overweight adolescents. Quantities of fat mass and fat free mass by running a small electrical current through the body.
Accuracy can also vary depending on various factors including. Body composition is an important component of an individuals health and fitness profile. Bioelectrical impedance analysis bia is able to make an estimation of body composition eg. The human body is not uniform either in length cross sectional area or ionic composition and this affects the accuracy of bia measurements in addition body impedance varies among different ethnic groups and influences the accuracy of bia validity of hand to hand omron bf306 bia with a 4 c model was tested among chinese and japanese participants which. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of bioelectrical impedance analysis bia in detecting percent body fat bf changes throughout a physical activity intervention in previously sedentary overweight men and women. International journal of endocrinology vol 2013.
However the convienience of this method comes at a price of accuracy. This is possible simply because different bodily tissues eg. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track your body fat percentage but they may not tell the complete story about your health. Here is a video showing how a 3 d body scanner works. Validity of bia measurements. Bioelectrical impedance bia bia is one of the quickest and easiest methods for predicting body fat.
Muscle fat bone etc all have varying amounts of water content and as a result they all differ in terms of electrical conductivity. In part 1 of this series you learned about how body fat testing is a prediction not a measurement. In part 2 you learned about underwater weighing and in part 3 you learned about the bod pod. 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. Now lets talk about bia.