How is body fat measured?
One of the most reliable and accessible methods of measuring body fat is through a technique called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis or BIA. Simply explained, BIA sends a weak electrical signal though the body and measures the impedance or resistance to it as it travels through the water that is found in muscle and fat. The more muscle a person has, the more water their body can hold and the easier it is for the current to pass through it. The more fat, the more resistance to the current. Using a device that looks like a bathroom scale, a person enters their gender and height then steps onto the platform. Electrodes in the foot sensor pads send a low, safe signal through the body and calculates the body composition from the resistance. BIA is safe and does not hurt. In fact, the signal used in body fat monitors can not be felt at all either by an adult or child. Weight is calculated automatically along with body fat content in less than a minute.
