BODY FAT TEST Comparison: Hydrostatic, Skin Fold, DEXA Scan, BIA

Digital Body Analyzer Scale
Link: vpwow.com/athrall
Code: athrall (60% off)
Hydrostatic Weighing: www.bodyfattest...
In this video I compare the Digital Body Analyzer Scale from www.vanityplan... with some other popular body fat testing methods: Hydrostatic (underwater weighing), Fat caliper skin fold analysis, and DEXA scan.
I also get the professional opinion from Alberto Nunez and Nsima Inyang of what my body fat percentage looks like.
Follow me on IG @untamedstrength
Follow Nsima @thenattyprofessor / / @nsimainyang
Follow Alberto @nunez3dmj

[@cellardoor8943]

body fat percentage: T H I C C

[@samuelsagarnadiez581]

Hello dear bots. Both of you were created on the 5th and 6th of march respectively. Do you think people are this stupid?

[@AlanThrall]

I forgot to mention that Alberto and Nsima were not aware of the results when they sent me their estimate.

[@ascendedvegeta]

Alan Thrall a while ago you made a video with Omar Isuf about spotting like a pro. It was a spoof video but I was wondering if you could make a serious one. thanks man!

[@tedquest5273]

Alan Thrall

[@tedquest5273]

I say 17, fat body recruit

[@randygentry1207]

He won't I already requested it once...for some it's a joke when someone gets hurt...there needs to be a focus on when things go wrong(sometimes in warm up not even ego lifting it happens)...most videos on it are all about no stealing gains or how silly people are.

[@tedquest5273]

20 pull-ups one for the commandant, One for chesty

[@Soldier842]

Hydrostatic 17,8% DEXA Scan: 22% Skin fold: 18,6% Body Scale: 25,7% Coach 1: 23% Coach 2: 18% - 22%

[@goldo1107]

Dexa scan is the most accurate one. I would disregard the other 2 over it. The coaches had it right. The scale had wrong by only a bit.

[@evaweiss1160]

The home body fat scales are never accurate, especially if they only measure the lower body. I always score 23-25% on them, but professional BIA that measure the whole body like a professional tanita scale or the InBody read me as 18-20%. According to InBody my torso has the lowest body fat, so measuring only upper/lower body will miss that and also just be off in general.

[@brobison75]

unsung heroes

[@youngman7655]

Marky Mark watch Dr Greg’s video on the dexa scan it’s bullshit.

[@mahlawat12]

Wtf? What should we believe now?

[@DreyriRS]

honestly, what alberto said was the most educational part about this video in my opinion. It certainly explains why you have so much more weight to lose than you'd initially think.

[@thechairman74]

DreyriRS Yeah, basically the point is if you want to cut, don't even try to think that all you are losing is fat. So if you want to get shredded, you need to lose a lot more than you think you need to. Look at Nick Wright. He's around 200 now. He cut down to 165 for a shoot, and he wasn't even that shredded.

[@diegonava7820]

Jeffrey Mao Nick Wright also cut down to 145 stage weight

[@thechairman74]

***** Course at that time I doubt he had the muscle mass that he has now. So he might only need to cut to 155? Hard to say but I don't think it'd be 145.

[@morkaplumbaga6628]

DreyriRS g

[@Paulios04]

Actually found this to be really interesting never really thought of losing lean mass as in blood quantity and things like that but it makes perfect sense

[@schlafreise]

"KEEP BLOWING! KEEP BLOWING!" Great work Alan!

[@ApeSlayer]

😂😂😂😂

[@mrquark]

Most digital scales will report the same weight in consecutive weighings if the weight is within a few tenths of the prior weighing. If you weigh yourself, do it again holding a few pounds, then weigh again without holding, etc., your weight will often fluctuate by a few tenths. This memory effect makes many digital scales seem more consistent than they really are.

[@wateraffliction]

happy to see this, i just threw this warning up myself since a lot of people are unaware

[@RainBoxRed]

This is actually a sign of a bad scale as it uses this effect to make it seem more precise, and hence its trustworthiness goes down. Now you start doubting it's accuracy as well.

[@Vxneji]

ACTUAL FACTS i noticed this

[@SheepWaveMeByeBye]

Lying electronics? Who wudda thunk it?

[@opensourcecurrency]

Yup.

[@dxc878]

“Which method is right? I don’t know - don’t ask me. I’m just a dude who owns a gym.” Finally a trainer on KZbin that realizes their limits of expertise just as clinical researchers recognize their limits.

[@Cenot4ph]

Some dudes can read literature regardless of occupation.

[@arganth]

the solution is simple: arnold: if it jiggles it's fat :D

[@hughjanuss5963]

arganth Muscle jiggles as well. You ever see bodybuilders legs before they flex them?

[@kowariantny8295]

Triceps jiggles as well.

[@Yuzurea]

Fire maybe it's just bone.

[@Supbrozki]

That's synthol my friend.

[@emello4you]

Just ask Homer Simpson

[@HiHowAreYouuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

Omg I literally pass your gym every day and I never knew you were the owner. Mind blown

[@mememanfresh]

are you pregnant

[@josephhumbles140]

@@mememanfresh lol

[@Sh1ro_Yaksha]

@@mememanfresh you mean he was

[@thesaint8400]

@@mememanfresh that's big Lennie you ignorant fuck!

[@stox9630]

Boy or girl

[@Just_Call_Me_Tim]

IF YOU HAVE AN IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE (i.e. pacemaker, specifically), DO NOT USE A SCALE THAT USES BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TO MEASURE BODY FAT! Guess how I found that out... the hard way. Those scales also HAVE to put that disclaimer on the box and actual product.

[@Vxneji]

what happens lmao

[@donoffitness2892]

@Randy Marsh oh shit

[@MrSupernova111]

Whoops! Good news is that after you die they can take an autopsy and give most accurate body fat readings.

[@dylanmonnier3559]

@@Vxneji it probably fries the pacemaker, making it stop someone's heart basically.

[@ark333]

that particular scale he is showing in this video has that disclaimer in the instruction book, I own it

[@MrEdgaranchondo]

Are this measures affected by your beard?

[@MedievalSolutions]

Edgar Anchondo Castañeda I wonder about that. Does it count as lean body mass or does is float i water. Does the scanner not care about it and that is why it gave him higher % than the hydrothing.

[@SirDomin8r123]

I don't think so, I think because it floats, in the floating test if the beard were to affect the results then it would result in a higher body fat reading, however the float had the lowest estimate. And for the scan, since the beard has a completely different composition to fat, bone and muscle, it wont affect the results; given this, if the beard was affecting the other results then the scan would give a slightly lower percent body fat than the others, which it didn't. Overall though, the beard makes up such a small percentage of Alan's body that it shouldn't affect any result much more than it's inherent uncertainty anyway. That was kinda hard to articulate hopefully it makes sense

[@jimbowimbo3796]

Edgar Anchondo Castañeda his beard is at least two pounds

[@ekw555]

at least two pounds. OF SOLID MUSCLE !

[@cynthianm1743]

Edgar Anchondo Castañeda lol

[@Prog47]

I didn't know Denethor, son of Ecthelion was a bodybuilder

[@ConsoleCleric]

I could talk for months about estimating bodyfat. Here are the key points: When I started University, the gold standard for estimating bodyfat was underwater weighing. When I finished, it became DEXA. 3-point Skinfold measures are not significantly different than 7-point Skinfold measures. For the money, Skinfold measures are best, but *DEXA is the most accurate*, next to being killed-off and shot with cobalt radiation.

[@oO_ox_O]

What about measuring all the pee? ;)

[@ashaneomacattack]

Alberto Nunez is one of my favorite fitness youtubers, awesome to see him on your channel.

[@sunnysideup5826]

Woah! Alberto's and Nsima's readings are great! What eyes they have! That's the coach eye in them.

[@ChumblesMumbles]

I found it interesting and a bit encouraging that the body-builders came in with their visual estimates right in the range that the scientific tests did. That makes sense given that they basically are professionals at evaluating and regulating their own body fat levels (that's as much the job as lifting weights) so they have a very particular view of the human body.

[@bigbugbig]

right click on beard->properties->70% transparency

[@mrs.w8193]

I agree with Alberto. I think he’s spot on. I also think the DEXA scan was the most accurate.

[@ryangi5]

You know at the end of every video where he says "train untamed!" I can help it. EVERY TIME I hear "train on time!" I know that's not what he says, but that's what I hear - EVERY TIME!

[@XAUCADTrader]

I always thought it was 'Train on time!' I'm not a regular viewer though.

[@JinjoVitis]

What was your Body Beard Percentage?

[@ilovejiyeonlee]

I heard it was getting close to 40%

[@TundraBoy]

body beard percentage is too high to be natty

[@will-i-am5374]

Thicc

[@TheDawnCrusader]

EXTRA T H I C C

[@heythereshawn9133]

we all saw the aku video this is great

[@MrPorteporte]

Average of the tests, scale and the guestimate are 21,1%. Would be safe to say that the scale as a solid 4% higher result. Just for thoses who wouldn't want to do the maths.

[@tuckfield656]

Well, the way it works is that it sends a current from one node to the other (both located at your feet). The current always takes the quickest path, which is thru the legs. So basically, it does a really good job of measuring, but only your legs. So, if you store body fat uniformly the reading will be accurate, but if you have chicken legs and a huge gut the reading will come out small.

[@Shadow81989]

That does indeed make sense - Alberto talked about how Alan has a larger part of his body fat in the legs than most people, and the scale does mainly measure through the legs, and extrapolates from there - so it is bound to have a higher value for him. In my gym we have a similar aparatus (definitely costs more than $60 though!), which measures through the feet, and additionally has 2 handles which you grab, so it measures through all limbs, which compensates for distribution (and also shows you the composition for left/right leg, left/right arm and core, in 5 seperate graphs...). I guess that's the best measurement, combining convenience and accuracy, that you can get.

[@rossmaurer2096]

I have a similar scale, and at a Dexa BF % of 11% and skinfold of 9.5% it was still reading over 22%. I don't even bother using that feature at this point. Its pointless

[@unknownyoutubeuser429]

Not all body analyzer scales use the same formula to calculate body fat based off the electrical current, and when u put that scale in athlete mode, it underestimates your Bodyfat by about 4% less than it would on normal mode. Usually not perfectly accurate but consistent.

[@unknownyoutubeuser429]

It doesn’t always overpredict your body fat, it uses BIA which tends to take the path of least resistance, so it won’t hit all your body fat usually depending on the scales formula

[@Victoriascarn]

I would be absolutely honored to be able to measure Alan's skinfold... My Boi Alan THICC 💯👌😥💯😥👌💯👌💯🔥👌

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

alan thicke

[@adoboFosho]

I know you want it

[@simonjdouglass1978]

This was a great video. The professional guys were spot on and it is interesting they could do what the machines do with just experience in the industry.

[@psyick9543]

Interesting- and not surprising - how much the results varied. The more important thing as Alan commented is consistency and your relative result vs the last time. BF scales even if inaccurate values at least show the trend. However I have some Medisana scales that I think are so consistent that they cheat by just giving you the last weight/BF reading if you stand on them shortly after the last time!

[@chainsawvsgod384]

Just bought one of those scales with your code. 60% off is insane!

[@louiscyfer6944]

piece of junk. it is like shredz, he is pushing junk on you.

[@NerdFromDenmark]

Really? i dont really have much knowledge about products like these, could you go a little bit more in depth?

[@louiscyfer6944]

bioimpedance doesn't work theough the feet. too much inconsistencies from calluses, skin thickness, etc. so basically it is just a bmi scale, you put in your height, it measures you and puts out your bf based on bmi. we tested it, same height same age, same weight, but i was competing, less than 5% bf, tje other guy just out of shape, about 35% bf, and this scale got both of us within a %. 30% +/-.

[@quintonmorris11]

You must have missed what he said about the percentages being high yet consistent. Did you watch the video? Ofc the percentage will be high, using a scale is NOT optimal to measure bf, but if it's consistent, like Alan said, a 3% decrease is a 3% decrease. Unless you'd like to spend hundreds getting a DEXA scan every time you feel you look thinner. Great advice bub, real helpful

[@louiscyfer6944]

quinton, the scale doesn't measure bf whatsoever. it just measures weight. 3lbs lost is 3lbs lost, but it doesn't tell you if you lost muscle or fat. it is consistent, when 2 guys of the same weight same height get on there, the sclase showed the same 35% bf, even though one of us was at 5%, the other at 35%. but that is a +/-30%, which is completely unacceptable.

[@tuckerorpin-wilkes2853]

Dude, what a great informative video. I always thought the X-ray and the water displacement testing would be the exactly the same. Really interesting to see deviations.

[@kevinweiss1278]

the coaches were pretty accurate tbh

[@dylanmonnier3559]

Kevin Weiss more accurate than the scale 😂

[@unknownyoutubeuser429]

Dylan Monnier The scale is not gonna be perfect, there’s a lot of other factors that can contribute to the reading but it’s still consistent so U can track changes overtime

[@knightveg]

@@unknownyoutubeuser429 the scales on active person are usually around 3% out 25% - the 3% percent out that would give a raging around 22% Then you can buy in the other three methods you get an average from 18% + The scales of pretty accurate but they're only accurate if you want his people with train 5 times a week for longer than a year

[@unknownyoutubeuser429]

fatdepressedveg knight Alan already had it in athlete mode when it had him at 26%, so he’d be about 30% on regular mode

[@cahenderson0812]

"I'm also a natural body builder" *Softball shoulder caps and garden hose veins*

[@olimphus26]

ikr, the only natural of the three is alan

[@annanicholson5309]

I get garden hose veins when I exercise

[@jayn8392]

@kmdshabbir yeah he would, but he wouldn't look like that dude in the wife beater. Alan seems to train for strength more than hypertrophy and aesthetics. The coach dude does look juiced, I have no idea if he is, but if not he looks crazy good for a natty.

[@Jaakko_Ruotsalainen]

100% natural organic test, hgh and insulin.

[@EuropaWill]

You look to be between 22-25%. I think Alberto's 23% is on point. Hard to tell not knowing if you are holding water or not.

[@purewoody1623]

of the three you used, DEXA is the best. Of the useless things I picked up from grad school was a ranking of all weight measurement techniques. The method where you are submerged in water is pretty good, but it's too variable. The amount of air you expel each time, and other factors make it slightly unreliable. The fat calipers were developed to be used in the field for malnourished children... so that's more like an eye-balling method. DEXA comes out on top.

[@SteezySteez2011]

In my undergrad Kinesiology courses, DEXA was always labeled as the best, but it doesn't seem like he's that thicc. Like 22% but still shows abdominal definition?

[@jjseed3407]

Dexa scan is just a more accurate impedence device. hydration levels of -+%5 percent will throw fat estimation off by 3%. Hydrostatic weighing is better if you A. Dont have gas B. Are really good at exhaling all your air out of lungs. Ideally hydrostatic weighing should be done in 0.9% saltwater same as our body but that has its own problems.

[@sorayaimperial]

Interestingly, in my physiology classes, I learnt that hydrostatic was more accurate and less variable than Dexa. What my professor told us was that hydration levels are too variable within individuals, which not only makes it inaccurate but also non-reproductible for the same individual; also, good hydrostatic weighing do measure the residual air in your lungs to compensate instead of estimating it from age and weight. Bioimpedance was classed as one of the lowest ranking; dexa is nothing more than impedance anyway. Skin folds are not the most accurate but the most reproductible, because they depend less on the time of day, hydration (although severe dehydration will make it harder to measure), meal on the day before, etc. Dexa can also be thrown off during a carb-load; doing 3 days of a carb load (even if you fast the day before the Dexa) will throw off results, increasing your apparent lean mass. Read this: weightology.net/cheat-your-body-fat-test/

[@2livenoob]

@@sorayaimperial I agree with you. I feel Alan's muscle mass + whatever his muscle hydration/mineral content were at that time, is throwing off the DEXA scan. I'm more inclined to believe the calipers and Hydrostatic test in this particular scenario.

[@caleymckibbin2304]

Of course. DEXA is the closest you can get to measuring the amount of each type of material composing the body.

[@maaifoediedelarey4335]

Alberto : Respect ! You know your trade.

[@MrBenjy1719]

This was a great video. One of the best objective comparisons of measurement methods out there. I loved having the subjective opinions added in. Experience is worth something, and should definitely be considered because it can contribute a lot to someone's perspective, but adding the science in with it is just amazing for real progress. I have had 2 DEXA's recently and you and I have about the same body fat, except i'm 5'9". Great, great stuff, you earned a subscribe today.

[@Strider362]

I think allan hit the nail on the head when he mentioned who cares If the scale is off. if you lose body fat it goes down & it is consistent. that's the entire goal. I may actually get one.

[@rogercampos8604]

Alberto killed it. Very great video!!!

[@Krisilicous]

Hi Alan Thrall! First off, thanks for another interesting video! Is it possible for you to add what you'd get with the "US Navy Fat Calculator", that does some math thingies with your waist and neck measures? I've seen it been used quite a bit by people who don't got either a fancier scale, cant use a fat caliper or cant afford a DEXA etc. Would be interesting to read what it gives you compared to all the others you tested!

[@AJ5]

DEXA = most accurate. The guys had some good educated guessings too!

[@Bumle]

The BIA scale is not as consistent as it seems. I have a BIA scale aswell. It seems like it is extremely consistent, but in reality it's just programmed to show the same result if you step on the scale again with almost the same weight as before. The way to see the real consistency is to step on the scale and get a reading, then you step onto the scale again either holding something a bit heavy in your hands, or supporting some of your weight on something to get a reading that is not close to your previous reading. Then you can step on the scale again normaly, and you will probably see a similar result to the first one, but not exactly the same, because it has been "reset" with another weight.

[@marcusblackfellow2850]

I feel like a fool for not noticing this on my suspiciously "consistent" new scale. It will appear to be measuring a different weight (+/-0.4 lbs) and then quickly snap back to the previous weight at the very end. Ugh... Thanks for enlightening me--now I have to spend more money.

[@annapurnamist9954]

@@marcusblackfellow2850 I have a Weight Watcher's scale. I tried your test six times in a row. I alternated the six weigh-ins between my body weight only and my body weight plus a 25-pound technique bar, which I held in my hands, hip high. I got three identical readings with no bar and three identical readings while holding the bar, albeit at 26.1 pounds heavier than my body weight only. So, at least for me, I will use my Weight Watcher's scale to test the weigh-in accuracy of the Digital Body Analyzer Scale from www.vanityplanet.com, which I just purchased as a result of Alan's endorsement.

[@marcusblackfellow2850]

@@annapurnamist9954 Interesting, I look forward to the results. Occisilo is the one who proposed the test, though. I only used it to confirm my crap Amazon Etekcity scale lies. ;)

[@annapurnamist9954]

​@@marcusblackfellow2850 I have received the Digital Body Analyzer Scale, featured in Alan's video, from Vanity Planet, delivered to my home for $75, which included shipping and the Alan Thrall discount. Thank you Alan and thank you Vanity Planet. The scale is now called Work It. The unit came well packaged and the accompanying manual is excellent, which made set up and initialization very easy. The scale is physically attractive, reasonably well made, and very easy to use. With the Work It scale, the weighing of various objects was very consistent and reliable. In a weigh-in test of two objects of a known weight, one at four pounds and another at 17.6 pounds, the Work It scale was perfectly accurate, more so than the two scales I had on hand for comparison, the Weight Watcher's scale and a body analysis scale from Balance. In fact, the Weight Watcher's scale had a tendency to weight me about 0.5 to 0.6 pounds heavier than the Work It scale. Like other body analysis scales, the Work It has two settings for both men and women, a standard setting and an athletic setting. To qualify for the athletic setting one must be engaged in 12 hours of intense physical activity per week and have a resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less. What constitutes intense physical activity? I used the information on these two web pages as a guide: coach.nine.com.au/2017/02/01/07/25/exercise-intensity and www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise-intensity/art-20046887. In essence, intense, according to the Mayo Clinic (see the second reference above), is any exercise, for a given duration, that causes one's heart rate to average about 80% of one's theoretical max. (The Mayo Clinic actually uses a more complicated way of determining this percentage.) It may also include any exercise that causes one to feel reasonably exhausted or fatigued as a result of that exercise. Conceivably, anyone involved in strenuous physical labor, such as wood chopping, shovel and pick work, snow shoveling, or material handling of reasonably heavy objects, all of these jobs done at a brisk pace, would quality as intense exercise in my opinion. I exercise five hours a week (two hours of strength training and three hours of aerobics) and work on average about 20 hours a week doing moderate physical labor. My resting heart rate is 52 beats per minute. However, I do not quite meet the stringent requirements sent by Vanity Planet for the athletic setting because all of my work is done at a moderate pace. To overcome the limitations of Work It's two-categories, I created a third category for moderate activity by doing the following: 1) I created two user profiles, one with the standard setting and one with the athletic setting; 2) I averaged the readings from the two settings to obtain, what I consider to be, a reasonably accurate picture of my body weight and percentages for my bone, water, muscle, and fat mass. The averaged readings seem to match what I see in the mirror and the analysis I have received from a seven-point caliper skin fold test. In summary, the Work It is an excellent scale for home use and should provide a reasonably accurate and reliable measure of one's body composition when readings are taken over a long period of time.

[@markm1514]

these scales always give me a crazy low reading, its still useful because its consistent so I can at least track my relative progress. seeing 13.5% is a nice ego boost, but looking down at the scale past my spare tire ruins the illusion. Navy method gives me a much more reasonable 20-23

[@dylanmonnier3559]

chinom the scales are inacurate too though

[@kbkesq]

We’ll done! I just bought one after that great discount and did a dexa scan to that cost $80 so we’ll soon see how close they come.

[@onlyalifetime]

So, how close were the results?

[@millettehabs224]

Great video Alan, FYI: DEXA is generally considered the "gold standard" in terms of body fat composition measurement. For research, it's being used more and more for the added benefit of providing bone mineral density (BMD) - which, if you're examining an older population, or any group at risk for osteoporosis (OP), might be good information to have (e.g. if you're wanting to examine the effects of strength training versus HIIT on the rate of bone mineral decrease, along with body fat % in middle-aged females at risk for OP). Clinically, it is relied on for determining what BMD values to enter into various OP risk scales (such as FRAX). From what I know, skinfold tests and hydrostatic weighing bear higher potential for error. So...I'm rather impressed with Alberto's guess!

[@scoobiesnatches]

Thanks Alan! I've been wanting one of these scales for awhile and your in depth review and seal approval has me sold! plus that juicy 60% off code makes this purchase much less of a sting. $130 for a scale was too much to me, but $60 is a freaking steal!

[@louiscyfer6944]

that is a piece of junk gimmick scale. they have been pushing similar crap to the uneducated for decades. i don't think allen is dishonest, he is just a schmuck who fell for the crap like you did.

[@cihan.a]

i have seen 10 fitness channels that sell this for 60% off on youtube. for example jeff nipard- nipard's girlfriend-buff bros-scott herman and so on... the actual price is 60$ they just use this method incase some idiot goes to the website and buys it for double the price

[@dylanmonnier3559]

Get a regular scale and a skin caliper, half the price and wayyy more accurate

[@moustafamahgoub1064]

when some one say i am a natural competing body builder you know they are lyin

[@Michael_00001]

3:04 The alien is trying to escape the body

[@Konge555]

hahah the horror that could happend

[@matiasschroeder5429]

I actually looked for scientific literature comparing different body composition methods and couldn't find any. Some random youtuber had to do the work... Thanks my good man.

[@wateraffliction]

IMPORTANT: scales will sometimes remember the previous weight if people try to test them like this in rapid succession.. a scale i had used to take a second to calc my weight then if i got back on it, it would give the same weight (but it seemed like it calculated too fast?) and it would give the same "accurate exact weight" everytime until I cleared its memory by adding a few other things (myself + items of various weights) then got back on myself (without them) and it would finally change by up to .5 lbs.. so it was pretty accurate but just a heads up. a quick test is to get on your scale, get right off, grab a small towel that should change your weight by idk .2 lbs? and see if the scale accounts for it. if its a cheap scale it probably wont.

[@ShreddedShredder0]

No single fat percentage test will be accurate. All these tests are useful only when used for comparison.

[@DriveupLife22]

Actually, DEXA is extremely accurate.

[@adimaurya02]

@@DriveupLife22 for real? do have like an article of research paper that supports that...would love to read it... :-)

[@unknownyoutubeuser429]

DEXA is most accurate but still not perfect

[@fabianmeyer506]

Plot Twist: how do we know its not accurate, when no test is accurate

[@juancarloslopezochoa4624]

@@fabianmeyer506 because there is only one accurate method, but can be done just once, and that moment is when you're dead. The most reliable method is weighting your body components separately from your corpse. DEXA is considered the gold standard, when you're alive, of course.

[@Silentway247]

almost pulled the trigger but Amazon sells it for $50 with free 2-day prime shipping.

[@dylanmonnier3559]

Marcus Sullivan don't, they're inaccurate, just buy a skinfold caliper for like $15

[@weeshnaaa]

I think this is the first video I've seen comparing all of these methods. Super useful and informational video!!

[@VerySeriousUser]

Most honest, useful and accurate comparison and review I have seen.

[@azmodanpc]

"I consider myself active" I see what you did there....

[@karolinagadek7679]

Xddd

[@excurrahee]

At 6ft 242lbs the BMI calculation give Alan a 32.8% body fat, making him "obese." Just goes to show the BMI calculator (standard weight and height) is FOS

[@kairinaminemix]

So you’re saying my 26% body fat on the scale is actually 23% 😱 YESS 🙆‍♀️

[@coldsuncrowfeet]

I have that scale and it is definitely worth the purchase. It's consistent and reflects my progress accurately. Plus I like having all the different measurements rather than just weight because my weight always fluctuates a lot.

[@maaifoediedelarey4335]

Thanks for the very interesting video. I was thinking about getting such a scale, so I wonder if you would mind answering this question : Does the scale not also (perhaps mainly, since it knows your weight, plus all the variables you've entered) rely on a background algorhythm built in (since if it can determine it by sending an electric impulse through your body, why would it need to know your age, gender and activity level ) ? Put another way, have you tested this hypothesis by entering different age and activity, even gender, and see if it give a different reading, right after your regular reading ?

[@logand5996]

Went through hydrodensitometry, calipers, and bioelectric impedance for an undergrad lab class and they were all from 9.5-10.5 percent body fat. The variation for you is insane.

[@sophovot5079]

I think the scales only really measure your lower body, so the road from one foot to the other

[@bajawalla]

Hahaha "Plump, yes. Pump, no." Made me LMFAO :-D Funny dude (wish I had like abs like you tho!)

[@everybird3530]

I think the scale maybe accurate since it only sends jolts to the lower body and he has more fat there

[@letdomf]

Then it's not accurate

[@chaseblackstone8749]

Flying Spaghetti Monster i think he means that in Alan’s case, it is inaccurate only because of his build

[@onearthonelegion]

Dick fat

[@jessicafb5398]

Hydrostatic is the most accurate with ~1.5% error and DEXA (according to the literature) has up to 4% error. DEXA is the gold standard for calculating bone density. Hydrostatic is the gold standard for body fat composition. *According to the scientific literature It’s good to know the caliper method is so accurate! That’s what I’ve done. I was considering DEXA, but now knowing that it has ~4% error, I want to do hydrostatic!

[@manguydude287]

Wow, Allen. You are such a real dude. Plus METAL. Totally humble and so honest. Subbed

[@kodac4256]

Actually those scales remember the last weight and snap back too it if it's close to the same. A lot of scales do this to make it look like they're consistently accurate. You could weigh a plate or a friend after you've weighed yourself, then weigh yourself again and you'd probably get a different reading.

[@mugflub]

The work you put into your videos shows. Always excellent content.

[@HansImWald]

what most ppl dont get is, that dexa also messures your visceral fat and therefore the values are higher. same with those scales. so dexa would be most accurate but WITH visceral fat and calliper is a very precise method to messure your body fat but without visceral fat.

[@TheEducatedGuesses]

Alan, that code was awesome! I have been wanting one for a while, thanks for doing you man.

[@JeffAboularage]

Very informative but entertaining videos. I like Alans antics and personality. Dudes funny as hell! I live in Stockton, so neat that he is in the local area the same as me!

[@gonzothegreat1317]

7:56 Perhaps the reason why the scale overestimates his bodyfat percentage. It might be accurate for the lower half of the body. Since the electricity only goes from one leg to the other.

[@GrifoStelle]

Possibly also because it was built for the average, non body building American. Maybe it's programmed to over shoot a bit. It can interfere with pacemakers so I assume the electricity could go higher as well.

[@lkez2]

DEXA looks the most accurate

[@thimira90]

If the bathroom scale has lower levels of accuracy, a 3% drop in body fat is NOT a 3% drop in body fat. If it's consistently producing the same deviation from other BF testing methods, there is a measurable error that can be identified and compensated for, thereby increasing the level of accuracy. If the scale only has a +/- 2% accuracy, then a 3% drop could technically be as little as 1% or as much as 5%. Unless you are trying to monitor progress as you drop 15-20% body fat, I strongly believe that something like a DEXA scan is the only relevant way to monitor progress.

[@SinnedNogara]

Body analyzer scales are dope but mine keeps telling me my bones weigh 8 pounds. Idk how.

[@Yupppi]

Superb video Alan! I've listened to a lot of talk about the accuracy of different measurement methods of body composition, particularly in Iron Culture Podcast and Strong by Science podcast with the expert researchers on the field. However actually seeing what happens in practice with the different methods is really good in internalizing what's going on. I feel like it's also good to make a note how skin caliper results are also very different depending if you do it at home versus someone in the lab who has been training to do it and does it regularly. That even between different professionals in the lab the results can differ with the caliper, it's a skill in itself and we shouldn't treat it as an absolute mechanical method (similar to how the other methods also have their shortcomings). The scale's limitations are obviously that it's mostly measuring just the legs, and as we know, adipose tissue doesn't stack in the same places with different people, there are genetical preferences. It also doesn't know the difference between different water weight situations, lean and fat tissue in relation, so you might be getting different results by just drinking a litre of water and measuring in 2 minutes vs 1 hour of the last measurement. What's good about the scale is what the manufacturer told, it's really convenient, and if you do the measurement in as controlled environment as you can - say every morning after night of fasting, after bathroom, before taking anything in - you can quite confidently track your _progress_ in body fat% which is most likely what you care about in the first place (alongside the total body weight). Like does it really matter to you if you're 15 or 12% true body fat if in the mirror the effects are as expected and for example you make the weight class. Also it's fun to see someone at same height and 26 kg more body weight. And his abs are more visible, yet he probably has as much fat in his quads as in my whole body. It's so curious how different people's bodies are. And how impressive Alan's physique looks with his numbers. He would look insane in my weight.

[@moesab1281]

Im actually fat, ans the BIA showed that im 24.5% body fat. No way in hell am i that low in body fat. Im more like 40% body fat

[@Mantorok12]

the two outliers are the hydrostatic and the calipers. Not saying they messed up, but those are the two that require the most human element; the caliper person has to be good and consistent at what they do, and for hydrostatic the subject has to expel all the air out of their lungs, which I imagine is not easy

[@MrNormallan]

Love you Alan ❤️ Such a strong natty, i feel like a weakling whenever i watch you lift

[@rockoramadevil]

Exactly..... scale is God sent if you keep it just for checking your progress and not getting crazy about the numbers.

[@shmu_el]

These scales overestimate people with more muscle mass. I suppose a big part of their algorithm is height/weight ratio.

[@pg-jq3jc]

this is effing freaking awesome review! thank you for this you mighty viking

[@sandmanoseven]

Dexa is a 3-component model, it will always be superior to a 2-component model. Hydrostatic and a proficient skin fold pincher will be more accurate than BIA. The biggest problem with BIA is hydration levels and you need cross body impedance to get a more accurate reading.

[@GenkiDamaSSJ]

I wonder if and how visceral fat (fat in the body cavity, around the organs as opposed to subcutaneous fat) comes into play. Good review, now I want this scale.

[@HandelandJ]

Awesome vid!!! Those scales always read higher IMO. I wish you'd tried a bod pod too, I was curious how that compares. I was thinking 17-18% for you.

[@dcmsr5141]

A lot of cyclist I know swear by the pod

[@richardhalford68]

I’ve watched many of your videos, really helpful and amusing, but this is one of the best. Thank you, good job and keep them coming. P.S. for some reason I was surprised to see how tall you are - you’re quite a unit!

[@spancer216]

this video is the best thing I've watched this month. THANK YOU

[@filho4437]

The best way to measure body fat is the same way every time. As long as it's consistent this is an awesome thing to have.

[@usmcoth]

There is one problem with the digital scale and that boils down to ELECTROLYTES. When I was in the military we used a digital ohm meter (similar to what the scale does) to determine resistance in the body. By hold the positive lead in one hand and the negative lead in the other and setting it to Ohms you get a resistance reading. People who tested in the K Ohms nearly 100% of the time passed the test that day but people with Meg-Ohm readings nearly 100% of the time failed the test. Resistance (or electrolytes) is what causes that reading to go up or down. Dehydration and lack of electrolytes and that will change accordingly. While in the Marines the caliper test was MOST often ruled as worthless as many of our OBESE Marines (like myself) who had as little as 6% body fat with alternate maximum weight waivers would be told we were obese from caliper testing. When they came out with the OBESE body fat bashing it was only made to pigeon hole the common human without any body building which calipers and that scale also do not take into consideration. They would set there pinching and pinching trying to come up with some answer that fit their "OBESE" expectation because my HEIGHT (5'9" to WEIGHT 228lbs) HAD TO BE OBESE according to this "STANDARD" that test was created for. What is also doesn't taken into consideration is the bone and muscle weight v. fat. Just like a person watching their weight wonders why the scale does shows them getting heavier while their waist is getting smaller. Loss of fat v gain of muscle weight.

[@cellinelisehenriksen3337]

Alan's got junk in that trunk XD and nothing wrong with that.

[@ShawnJonesHellion]

as long as hes got cash in the pocket he can get any girl he wants

[@JohnVKaravitis]

I've been tested with the Bod Pod. There's a fitness service/assessment organization in Kankakee, IL, that has one. It's neat. It's apparently as accurate as the DEXA, but with no radiation exposure.

[@sgtmccarty]

Thank you so much for the information. I ended up buying the scale, because your comment. " A 3% decrease is a 3% decrease".

[@canererbay8842]

I expected all the results to be shown together in the same frame at the end and I'm disappointed.

[@Kale-Man]

That background noise when you’re outside

[@user-ei8rx7ob9t]

At the university of Physical education I was taught that the water is the most accurate one

[@survivor458]

if we assume DEXA scan is 100% accurate. then skin fold is the closest, it is off by 3.4% body scale is off by 3.7% Hydrostatic is off by 4.2% I think skinfold is off only because of the formula used because everyone is different. if you take skinfold raw data to measure your progress, I think it is accurate and cheap.

[@wesleyhovis5101]

Nice bro! I'm glad to see you taking some paid sponsorships. This is a really good scale.

[@kailash5063]

Dont know about body fat thing...but he is absolutely a healthy male

[@mrzazzaable]

I dunno, he has that American cop build

[@skydiver91]

Bro I bought one and what I really love about it apart from the consistency, is that it errs on the plus side. Which for me whos aiming to shred down, I'd rather be a little leaner in real life than the scale says! Really glad I bought it!

[@HeathWatts]

This was very useful. Thanks for posting it.

[@sidharthkm5030]

So.....we are just going to ignore the fact that Alberto said he was a natural bodybuilder?

[@mladenerak]

This was perfect timing I needed to get a new scale thanks

[@traininggrounds9450]

Obviously the DEXA scan is the most accurate and should probably be the basis for determining all other results which are based off of calculations. The hydrostatic method is ultimately based off of formulas from the data they get to ESTIMATE the body fat percentage. The caliper method is obviously taking a certain many data points to estimate the body fat percentage. And finally the electric scale is doing a rough estimate based on electrical impedances in the body that it may or may not even be able to tell with a certain critical level of accuracy. So all in all, I'd say the professionals were the best way to go who have worked with multiple methods of determining the statistic and with multiple people. I think they were the most accurate besides the DEXA scan.

[@crankyoldlady5433]

beard man is a babe

[@209UNKNOWN]

Came here to see how accurate these methods of body measurements were, boy was I disappointed. I read that Hydrostatic and DEXA scan were 2 of the most accurate ways to measure, I was hoping to see close results in comparison from the two... didn't happen. Beyond that, great video!