Are body fat scales accurate reddit?

On Reddit, opinions on the accuracy of body fat scales are divided. Here are the main viewpoints:

1.Some Believe They Have Limited Accuracy: Many Reddit users think body fat scales are not very accurate. Body fat scales usually work based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). However, the algorithms they use often rely mainly on factors such as height, weight, and gender, and only make slight adjustments based on BIA results. In addition, external factors like hydration levels, time of day, and recent physical activity can significantly affect readings. For example, dehydration can cause the scale to overestimate body fat percentage, while over - hydration can lead to an underestimate.

2.Some Believe They Can Show Trends: Some users feel that although body fat scales are not highly accurate in absolute terms, they can reflect trends to a certain extent. If the scale shows a continuous decrease or increase in body fat percentage over a period of time, and the user's lifestyle and diet have also changed accordingly, then this trend may be meaningful. For example, if a person is losing weight through diet and exercise, and the body fat scale shows a gradual decrease in body fat percentage, it can indicate that the weight - loss plan is working. But this is only a rough estimate, and the actual body fat percentage may not be exactly as shown on the scale.

In general, while body fat scales can provide some useful information, their accuracy is limited2. They are more suitable for tracking changes in body fat percentage over time under consistent conditions rather than for obtaining precise measurements2.