How Accurate Is the InBody Scale?

by Anand Thakkar, MD. ~

Did you know that almost half of the people in the United States are trying to lose weight?

Many people have the desire to lose weight and have taken measures to be more active and eat healthier. Despite that, the results might not be coming as quickly as you’d like on your scale.

Have you thought about using an InBody Scale as a way to measure your body fat percentage? Measuring your body fat percentage with a fat loss scale is just as important as measuring your weight.

Continue reading to learn more about the InBody Scanner scale for fat loss and how it can help you achieve your workout goals.

How Does an InBody Scale Work?

The InBody scanner works by using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to measure the amount of body water is in your body by reading the number of low-level currents in your body.

This fat loss scanner analyzes your body and looks for temporary changes in your body composition so that you know the most accurate results of how your workouts and diet are helping you.

There are people who question the InBody scale accuracy because of how much the readings can fluctuate in a short amount of time but there is a multitude of factors that play into that.

Exercise

The time that you choose to weigh in on the InBody Scale is a big determining factor in how the reading will go. This is especially true in regards to the body fat reading.

During your workout, the water in your body is concentrated into areas of your body that need nutrients and have waste products that need to be removed.

Once you’ve completed your workout your body fat levels and impedance levels both decrease. This means that you’ll have a leaner appearance post-workout.

Another factor that impacts the fat loss scanner after you’ve finished working out is your body temperature. It is likely that your workout will increase your body temperature, which also reduces body fat and impedance.

Body Temperature

The temperature has a major effect on your InBody Scale reading as well.  When temperatures increase, your body fat percentage drops. A good rule of thumb is that when your body temperature decreases, your impedance increases.

It is important to know that if you’ve just finished working out or if you’ve spent time outside that your body fat reading will not be completely accurate due to changes in your body temperature.

If you’ve recently been in an icy room your InBody Scale accuracy will be skewed. Cold or icy rooms have shown to increase body fat by up to 4 percent over the true number because of the changes the cold has on your body.

Taking a Shower

Taking showers increases the blood flow within your body while also decreasing impedance. Because of these changes, body fat decreases from taking a shower.

Studies have shown that people that take a shower before weighing in on an InBody Scale have seen results of a reduction in body weight as well as body fat. Keep this in mind if you’re going to weigh in and want the most accurate results possible.

Eating

Believe it or not, eating also plays a factor in your InBody Scale reading. Eating food decreases impedance during the eating and digesting process. Eating can result in influencing body fat by as much as 10 percent on the scale for fat loss.

There is a positive correlation between the amount you eat throughout the day and how much your InBody Scale reading is affected. The more you eat, the less accurate your reading is.

Using the restroom also affects your reading. You’ll get a different reading if you weigh in before using the restroom versus weighing in after using the restroom. This is because body fat immediately decreases after using the restroom.

Menstruation

The InBody Scale’s results will vary depending on if it is a man or a woman that is being weighed. This is the result of the menstruation cycle because a woman’s weight is increased during the luteal phase.

The luteal phase involves the body accumulating excess body water which results in a decrease in body fat. Increased cravings for sweet or salty food during that time period can also affect the body fat percentage.

It is important to remember that the body fat percentage can change a lot during the luteal phase. For the most accurate readings, try to weigh in during the follicular phase.

Pros and Cons of InBody Scale

The biggest benefit that the InBody Scale provides is the ability to measure your body fat percentage from the comfort of your home.

It eliminates the need to go to the gym or visit a doctor for a weigh-in. This is especially valuable given the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantines.

While the convenience of it is great, you need to remember that there are a number of factors that impact the accuracy of the results. Using this method as the sole measurement of health and progress is going to prevent you from seeing the big picture.

Another drawback of a scale for fat loss is that it isn’t able to account for where your body stores fat. Medical professionals tend to be more concerned with fat that is around the midsection because that leads to serious illness and disease.

An InBody Scale is great for telling you the amount of body fat percentage you have, but it isn’t able to tell you where it is stored on your body and if it is a dangerous place for fat to be.

Start Your Weight loss Plan Today

Are you wanting to lose weight and see real results? An InBody Scale is a valuable resource to have for monitoring your weight loss progress. It measures the amount of body fat you have. It is important to remember that it is affected by other factors.

Click here to schedule an appointment and begin your weight loss regimen today!

This blog is for informational purposes only. Do not make any major changes to your lifestyle, exercise regime or diet without consulting your health care professionals.

Meet Dr. Thakkar

Dr. Anand Thakkar is a licensed Internal Medicine physician. He is Board Certified in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. He is a member of the teaching faculty for students at Chicago Medical School and has been featured on ABC, FOX, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes as a recognized authority in wellness, fitness & nutrition, weight loss, anti-aging, hormones & metabolic medicine, holistic medicine, lifestyle coaching and women’s & men’s health. His mission is to help people become the healthiest versions of themselves using movement, nutrition, and a whole-body approach to medical care.