Choosing a Body Fat Monitor

By Christopher Fitch
Ever wonder why you can't lose weight or why you fall of your healthy eating wagon? And it always seems to become an issue when we are trying on a new pair of pants that turn out to be too snug when they shouldn't be, or we're trying to squeeze into an outfit we haven't worn in awhile.Now that obesity has been identified as a serious health issue among all age groups, people have taken a much more aggressive position about getting and keeping in shape. The unfortunately reality about obesity is that it doesn't just affect children or senior-management types. It affects us all. But to what extent? How close are we to that danger zone where body fat threatens our lifestyle and, possibly, our life?Body weight is a good place to start, but it has very little to do with body fat level. In fact, you might look okay on the scale (or even in the mirror for that matter) but what's below the surface is what really counts; fat as percentage of body weight. What we need to accurately measure body fat is a Body fat monitor. In the past, you might have had to see a doctor or fitness specialist to properly calculate your body fat content. Over the past twenty-eight years or so, these machines have evolved to the point where they can capture biometric impedance. As high-tech as it sounds, today's body fat monitors are actually simple to use.A body fat monitor does its job by sending an electrical impulse through your body. It then measures resistance faced by this impulse; in the same way it is easier to cut through butter with a hot knife than it is to cut through wood, the impulse will encounter resistance as it travels through different types of body mass. By measuring total body water (TBW), calculating the difference between muscle and fat content, and taking into account your scale weight, the body fat monitor will come up with your body's fat-free mass.There are numerous monitors available today ranging in price from just under $40 to upwards of $800. Most Body fat monitors are user-friendly, regardless of price. This means your children can use them, allowing them to check their body fat results as well. For most of us, some of the most-worthwhile features to look for in a good body fat monitor are the ability for it to help you measure daily caloric intake and perform basic weight monitoring and trend calculations. As well, you should look for a model that will allow you to change the settings from adult to child, from athletic to non-athletic and so on. This will enable you to take more accurate readings as you make progress with your health and fitness goals.As well, you should look for storage capabilities. A monitor that can save your readings (especially with multiple users) allows you to keep track of your readings without the need of manual record keeping or trending-lining. This may be especially handy for the active family who may not always have time to write down their measurements.For those of us who feel the pinch whenever we go to buy new clothes or get decked out for a special occasion, a body fat monitor might not help us lose weight right then and there. But it definitely will help keep us on track with our regular training routine.