Health and Fitness Information Center

Tanita Body Fat Frequently Asked Questions, Part 7

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DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) - This method is very accurate and repeatable, but involves extremely expensive equipment and is generally 20-30 minutes while every section of their body is systematically X-rayed. This method is used mainly in research studies.

Hydrostatic Weighing ( Dunk Tank) - Done correctly, this method is also quite accurate, and the results are often repeatable. However, the test is somewhat subjective because it relies upon the subject's ability to expel all oxygen from their lungs while submerged in a tank of water. Oxygen remaining in the lungs will skew the results. This method is considerably inconvenient to the user. The 'tank' is also expensive, depending on the type of equipment used and the under water facility. In clinical settings, this procedure is repeated a number of times, and an average is taken. Because of the expense, lengthy testing process, and physical burden to the subject, this method is more suitable for research studies.

Conventional BIA - Conventional Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis methods are accurate, but more subjective based on the placement of electrodes (a 1cm electrode variation on any limb dramatically changes the reading); therefore trending results may not be accurate.

The user lies down while electrodes and conductive jelly are place on a wrist and opposite ankle. Although this procedure can be performed in some physician's offices, it is neither as convenient nor objective as the Tanita BIA method.