Latest news with #bodycomposition
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Discounted by $261, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is just too good to pass up
If you've been thinking about getting the Galaxy Watch Ultra, now is the perfect time to grab one. A third-party seller on Amazon is offering an incredible $261 discount, letting you get one of the best smartwatches on the market for just under $390. Even though the offer isn't coming directly from Amazon, you still get a 30-day return window, so you can buy with confidence, knowing you have the option to return the device if needed. $261 off (40%) Score the Galaxy Watch Ultra at a $261 discount on Amazon! This tough smartwatch is built for anything, boasting standout features like FDA-approved sleep apnea detection and Samsung's advanced body composition tracking. Don't wait—save while you can! Buy at Amazon Of course, price matters, but what really makes this Samsung watch worth considering is its durability and premium design. It features a rugged titanium case and a sapphire crystal display, making it tough enough for everyday wear and even more extreme conditions. With IP68 and 10ATM ratings, it handles dust with ease, withstands up to 30 minutes in five feet of water, and even holds up during brief dives as deep as 328 feet. Beyond its tough build, it also delivers great battery life. You can get up to two days per charge with heart rate tracking enabled and the always-on display turned off. Plus, it's packed with advanced health features, including FDA-approved sleep apnea detection and Samsung's body composition functionality. All things considered, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the complete package, offering durability, a plethora of features, and solid battery life. Furthermore, it's a true bargain at its current price on Amazon. And while this $261 discount comes and goes, it creates an unmissable opportunity to up your smartwatch game every time. So, don't miss out! Tap the offer button at the beginning of this article and score one at a bargain price today!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Share 3 Things Your Body Composition Says About Your Health—And The Best Ways To Measure It
For bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts, changing body composition often reflects hard work and discipline—but knowing body composition is useful for anyone, and for more than just bragging rights. That said, how you measure body composition matters, and no one universal body composition is ideal for everyone. It's best to check in with doctors and other healthcare experts—like the ones you'll hear from below—to determine your current body composition and how to use it to reach your goals. Meet the experts: Brittany Busse, MD, is the chief medical officer and co-founder of ViTel Health. Steven Shamah, MD, is the director of endoscopy at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Mathew Forzaglia, NFPT-CPT, CFSC, is a personal trainer and the founder of Forzag Fitness. What you can learn from your body composition numbers: Your body composition not only tells you how much body fat you have, it tells you where it's located, which can be valuable data. For example, visceral adipose tissue (or, the fat around your abdomen) is directly related to diseases like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, whereas subcutaneous adipose tissue (the fat that sits right below the skin) is mainly a fuel storage depot, says Brittany Busse, MD, a longevity medicine and health optimization physician. Keep in mind that some body fat—both visceral and subcutaneous—is normal and healthy. Your body needs fat for essential functions like hormone production and temperature regulation, to name a few. Losing too much fat could send your body into a 'protective starvation mode,' which would actually start to break down muscle, says Dr. Busse. And, depending on the kind of body comp screening you do, you can also get more information about your bone density, which is a health marker for osteopenia and osteoporosis, both of which women in particular are at risk of as they age. You've heard it before: The scale doesn't tell the whole story. And, it's entirely possible to lose fat and never see a change in your body weight. 'I make sure that people with weight loss goals understand that the number on the scale is just the number on the scale,' says Steven Shamah, MD, the director of endoscopy at Lenox Hill Hospital. This is where body composition comes in handy, he adds. Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you start losing fat but gaining muscle, the number on the scale might not be shifting—but your body composition percentages could be. Relatedly, then, body composition metrics are useful for people who want to put on muscle mass and track their success in the gym. If you're an athlete (yes, recreational sports count!), body composition can be a critical and sometimes overlooked training metric. Tracking muscle growth lets you know if your current programming is working, so you can continue to make gains. If you're curious about your own body composition, there are plenty of ways to measure it. Each method offers varying levels of accuracy, ease, and accessibility. The 'right' method for you depends on your resources and what you plan to do with any data you collect. DEXA scan A DEXA scan (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) is the 'gold standard' for calculating body composition because it's low cost, low radiation, and very accurate, Dr. Busse says. This technology uses low-level X-rays to collect detailed results, including visceral fat levels, water content, and bone density. The test is performed in hospitals and medical centers and is sometimes offered in more commercial settings, like spas and sports performance clinics for anywhere between $100 and $250. When used to detect certain medical conditions, like osteoporosis, a DEXA scan may be covered by some insurance providers, but you otherwise probably couldn't get one paid for just because you're curious. According to Dr. Busse, getting a DEXA scan outside of a medical environment is safe, but it's a good idea to run your results by a doctor to get a more accurate interpretation. Bioelectrical impedance analysis Scales and handheld devices that measure body composition typically use a technology known as bioelectrical impedance analysis. When you stand on a scale or hold a pair of electrodes, the device produces an electrical current and calculates your body composition based on how quickly it travels through your body. Tools that use bioelectrical impedance analysis are popular with coaches, trainers, and everyday athletes, as they're affordable (popular models are available online for around $300) and easy to use. However, what they offer in convenience, they lack in accuracy, says Mathew Forzaglia, NFPT-CPT, CFSC, founder of Forzag Fitness. 'It will give you, maybe, a plus-three or minus-three reading on your actual body fat,' he says. 'But then we have a number we can work off of.' Skinfold caliper A skinfold caliper is a handheld instrument used to pinch and measure the width of a skinfold in millimeters. Calipers are used by fitness coaches and trainers as well as medical professionals in clinical settings. A practitioner collects measurements from between four and nine areas of the body, depending on the protocol, and inputs them into a formula to calculate body fat percentage. The results of this method are limited to subcutaneous fat (the fat located just below your skin) so you won't get a sense of your visceral fat or a detailed breakdown of your lean mass. Plus, accuracy can vary significantly based on how experienced and skilled the administrator is. Want to burn fat and build muscle at the same time? Join WH+ to get the exclusive 4-week walking plan. Also, skin pinching can be physically uncomfortable and awkward for some people. 'You're put in a very vulnerable position, and then you're getting real-time feedback on how much body fat you have,' Forzaglia says. 'For someone who's not confident in the gym or with their body, that could put a damper on them.' MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide body composition information, but it's typically used to measure fat accumulation in specific tissues and organs, like the liver and pancreas, rather than generate whole-body calculations. Additionally, the cost of using MRI and the time required to administer the screening can be prohibitive for clinicians and patients. You'd likely only be prescribed a full-body MRI if your doctor thought it was medically necessary, so this isn't the most accessible option for most people. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Health Line
22-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
How Accurate Are Body Fat Scales?
Body fat scales provide a rough estimate of your body composition based on your weight and other factors. However, research suggests that smart scales may not be fully accurate at measuring body fat. Various factors can affect your overall weight. For example, increased muscle mass can make the number on the scale stay the same or, in some cases, increase, even if you're losing fat and becoming more toned. Therefore, you may be more interested in learning about your overall body composition than your weight. Body composition refers to the amounts of bone, fat, muscle, and other tissues in your body. Healthy body composition goals vary from person to person. Smart scales are commercially available tools that claim to measure body fat and overall body composition. Even if you're not trying to lose weight, a body fat scale may help you determine whether you have an optimal fat-to-muscle ratio. Body fat scales aren't foolproof, and some research suggests they lack accuracy. However, you may still want to use one in between visits with your doctor or personal trainer. You'll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of 'male' and 'female' or 'men' and 'women.' While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings. How do body fat scales work? Body fat scales are easy to use. You simply step on the scale, and the tool measures your body composition. According to a 2023 review, smart body composition scales can measure: muscle mass bone mass water weight visceral fat, which is fat around the abdomen These scales have sensors underneath your feet that use bioelectrical impedance. Bioelectrical impedance uses a weak electrical current to measure the amount of resistance from body fat. When you step on the scale, the current runs up through your leg and across your pelvis. Then, the sensors in the scale measure the level of resistance that the current meets as it travels back through your other leg. Depending on the type of body fat scale you have, the information can link up to your smartphone or smartwatch, as well as any fitness apps you might have. As a rule of thumb, greater body resistance means a higher fat percentage. Fat contains less water than muscle, so it's more difficult for a current to travel through it. Are body fat scales accurate? According to a 2021 observational study, body composition scales are reasonably accurate at measuring total body weight but not body composition. Possible reasons for this include: the size and width of a person's feet affecting the measurement a lack of guidance on where to put the feet changes in body positioning A 2023 review highlights that moving before the scale finishes measuring could lead to errors or missing data. The review's authors also caution that manufacturers of smart scales may not be fully transparent when marketing their scales. This means you may experience inaccurate results or measurements that don't quite align with the product's claims. These scales also cannot consider certain important factors, such as a person's age. Ultimately, commercial body composition scales are not as accurate as professional measurements, which may use imaging tools such as X-ray to measure your body fat. What are the pros and cons of body fat scales? The greatest benefit to using this type of scale is that you can measure your body fat in the comfort of your own home at any time, all without traveling to a gym or clinic. However, these scales aren't completely accurate, so you may not want to rely on them alone to measure your overall health. Another drawback is that a body fat scale doesn't take into account other variables of body fat, such as where you might have it. For example, doctors tend to be more concerned about body fat around your midsection because this can increase your risk for certain health conditions, like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Even if the measurement is accurate, a body composition scale can only tell you the overall fat percentage and not where on the body you're storing potentially dangerous fat. Body fat vs. BMI Body mass index (BMI) is another way to assess your body composition. While BMI can't measure fat or distinguish it from muscle and bone, it does provide an overall picture of whether you're in a suitable weight range for your height and age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines the following BMI recommendations for adults: You can use online calculators to determine your BMI, such as this one from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The downside to relying on BMI is that it doesn't measure body fat. So, an athlete with a lot of muscle, for example, could have a higher BMI based on their weight and height. The CDC highlights that other indicators of health are just as important to consider as your BMI, including: underlying health conditions health and lifestyle habits findings from physical or laboratory exams Other ways to measure body fat While stepping on a scale is perhaps the easiest method of body fat measurement, there are other ways you can determine your body fat percentage. Aside from BMI, you can ask a healthcare professional about the following methods: Waist measurements One drawback to body fat scales is that they don't tell you how much fat your body holds around the waistline. Research shows that visceral fat increases your risk of issues such as: cardiovascular diseases type 2 diabetes high cholesterol Measuring your waistline can help complement body fat scale results. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute notes that the risk for heart disease and diabetes increases if you are a woman with a waist measurement greater than 35 inches (88.9 cm) or a man with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches (101.6 cm). Calipers Many fitness professionals use calipers. These tools pinch your skin folds (usually around the waist or hips) to estimate your body fat. The accuracy of this method varies. The results may be more or less accurate depending on factors such as the expertise of the person taking the measurement. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans Often used to measure bone mass for osteoporosis diagnoses, DEXA scans are also reliable methods of body fat measurement and can be more reliable than relying on BMI alone. You'll need to find a center with the equipment to get one of these scans. They can be pricey depending on your location, and insurance does not always cover them. Handheld fat measurement devices This body fat measurement test works similar to that of a scale, except it doesn't measure your weight. There are sensors on either side of the device that measure your body fat as you hold the device in front of you. Handheld fat measurement devices tend to use bioelectrical impedance, like smart scales. This means they may not be as accurate as other methods that professionals use, but they're easy to use at home and relatively inexpensive. Underwater weight (hydrodensitometry) test Fat floats more easily than muscle. The person administering the test calculates your body fat percentage using your total body weight and buoyancy. According to a 2018 review, underwater testing is an accurate tool to measure body fat. However, it can be difficult to find a center that can perform this type of testing. Some people may also find the test uncomfortable. Bod Pod Available at some fitness centers and medical facilities, a Bod Pod is a device you sit in for a few minutes while it measures your body fat via air displacement plethysmography (ADP). This method has similar accuracy to underwater testing. However, access to these devices is limited, and testing can be expensive. Takeaway Body fat scales can be helpful when you're trying to measure your body fat, but they don't tell the whole story about your fat-to-muscle ratio. Instead, you can use these scales as complements to other tools. When using body composition scales, it may help to use the same set of scales each time and use them at the same time every day you measure yourself.
