I have noticed that if i have a few beers the next morning my body fat reading is higher than i suspect it should be. 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. For example on the tanita website tanita is a brand of body fat scales it says under the faqs section that dehydration causes the body fat reading to come out higher than it actually is. There seems to be a lot of mixed answers to how hydration affects the body fat readings. However notice that it took an entire gallon of water to drop jasons body fat percentage by 1 percent. How does hydration affect the output on a body fat scale.
This is especially significant after completing a vigorous workout routine. When is the most accurate time of day to check your body fat. 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. If the amount of water in your body. Water affects your body fat scale reading. The fat tissue numbers are also changed slightly as water is dispersed throughout the body over the course of an hour changing the average tissue density.
I have been told the best time is the first thing in the morning before any food intake. Because the amount of water in your body is constantly fluctuating so will the estimate of your body fat. Accuracy can also vary depending on various factors including. Now that youre aware of the importance of being well hydrated to gain lean body mass youre probably curious if your hydration status can also impact fat loss efforts. Your body fat is pretty water dense so dense in fact that body fat is comprised of about 10 water. There are many different methods of measuring body fat percentage as well as a number of variables that can potentially affect the outcome of a body composition test.
In a study by published in annals of family medicine the researchers found out that people who are obese and have a higher body mass index or bmi although bmi has its own limitations are more likely to be inadequately. Since water is a conductor of electricity the resistance the electrical signal experiences while traveling through the body will help determine what percentage of your body is fat. That means that your changing level of hydration can have a significant effect on the body fat reading that you get. Effects of hydration on body fat composition. Your muscle is composed largely of water. Most body water is stored in muscle.
Bioelectrical impedance is a method of tracking body fat that occurs by sending a low voltage electrical current through the body. If you are using a body fat scale or monitor your body fat reading is affected by the amount of water in your body. Body fat percentage is an important measurement of a persons health risk.