Omron Body Fat Analyzer

Model HBF-306 gives you accurate readings

By Charlie White

If you?re trying to lose weight, what you really want to know is how much fat you?re losing. That?s where the Omron Body Fat Analyzer ($40) can help. This small plastic device sends a weak electrical current through your body that can accurately measure your percentage of body fat. We tested the analyzer on a variety of body types and found it to be easy to use and accurate from one day to the next. Here?s our review.

We have reviewed another Omron product in the past, its Walking Style Pedometer, which proved itself to be highly accurate and a great value. Because of the heightened interest in weight loss and body fat percentage, we decided to take a look at the Omron Body Fat Analyzer, a relatively low-cost instrument for determining the percentage of body fat, which is a closer indicator of overall fitness than just a weight measurement. It works by sending a tiny electrical current through your body, and since fat tissue inefficiently conducts electricity, it slows down the electrical signal from one of your arms through the other. Omron arrived at this formula by comparing its results to the gold standard of body fat percentage determination, which is called hydrodensitometry, or underwater weighing.

There are other body fat analyzing units that are integrated into a scale, but if you already have an appropriate scale for weighing yourself, this handheld unit is ideal to work alongside it. It?s simple to set up, where you first enter your height, weight, age, and sex. Then you can assign yourself a number from one through nine, and the unit permanently stores your personal data (your height, weight and age, but not your daily readings, which would have been nice). The unit can also store personal data for eight others. To measure your fat percentage and BMI, you hold the unit at a 90° angle with each of your palms touching two of the unit?s four electrodes. Press the Start button and a slight electrical current begins flowing through your body. That sounds scary, but not to worry, though?you can?t feel a thing. After a few seconds, the device displays two separate readings. The top reading is your percentage of body fat and the bottom reading is your BMI, or body mass index. The BMI scale measures levels of body fat, with numbers that vary according to age and sex. Generally, a BMI of over 30 in men and over 38 in women is considered in the obese range. 

An especially useful setting on this unit is for athletes. In the well-written instruction manual, there?s a formula to help calculate your FIT (Frequency x Intensity x Time) index, where those who exercise daily at variously levels of intensity for 30 minutes or more should use the Athlete mode. This setting can give a more realistic assessment of relative proportions of fat to muscle in certain muscular or highly active people. For instance, on one of our test subjects, the Normal mode registered a body fat percentage of 32.5%, but in Athlete mode, which was appropriate for this person, it measured just 27%.  

One of our colleagues here at the Midwest Test Facility is built like a model and rail-thin, and it measured her percentage of body fat and BMI at an identical percentage of 18.5%. Others of us who are not so fortunate ranged from 25 to 33%. It was also interesting to note that various times of the day yielded different readings, where early in the morning a reading of 23.7% turns to a 25.2% reading late in the afternoon. According to the documentation, this is normal because different levels of fluid fluctuate during the day.

We found the Omron Body Fat Analyzer to be an accurate instrument, and easy and fun to use as well. It?s simple to set up, and even though it doesn?t store its readings, it stores your personal data so you won?t need to enter it each time you use it, and offers consistent results. The price is right, and it?s helping us keep an eye on our overall personal health. Highly recommended. 9.5 out of 10 stars.