That’s interesting about internal reference tables in the scales. I’ve just done a more in-depth internet search based on that assumption and found this
I know bio impedance scales are inaccurate, I was just curious as to how they work, algorithm-wise.
From the above data, I generated the graph shown below (with caveats too numerous to mention) for a male aged 60-79.
Sorry 
for the image quality, and all the extrapolations
My fitness “smart scale” says 12%, the Navy calculator says 16%. Since the Navy calculator is more in line with the pictures Agetron provided and what I look like, I have to conclude that the Navy calculator is more accurate than my scale.
My Withings scale tells me I’ve got 10.1 per cent body fat.
The US navy body fat calculator says 11 per cent, so pretty close agreement, as shown above.
Incidentally the cheap scales I bought for visceral fat measurement are also in close agreement as shown below
Although the body age of 26 does make me wonder about its overall accuracy, as I’m 62 
If you can find a DexaFit or DexaBody facility reasonably close by, you can get a DXA scan at moderate cost (~$100) and without a prescription, that will accurately report visceral fat, body fat percentage by region in your body, and bone density which is important for all of us. The PEARL clinical trial is using DexaFit facilities for their study. Getting scans over time with the same machine and operator helps deal with variability in the scanning process.
Thank you, this is very good to know! I had no idea it was so affordable.
I love that picture chart. My gut feeling is the male 15% and 20% photos are REALLY close to each other and it’s hard for me to really see the difference.
You might look in to Inbody machines. They use different technology than Dexa, so would be safer to use more frequently for body fat measurements.
They have at home scales that may be similar to the one you have. I’m guessing one of the bigger machines you’d have to go to a gym or some other office would be more accurate than the at home scale, but it’s hard to say.
https://www.amazon.com/InBody-H20N-Composition-Bluetooth-Smartphone/dp/B07QR8SYP1
Yeah… a little more define at 15% some abs showing. You get into 15% to 20% body fat range… you are killing it.
The lower percentages… under 15% look dehydrated. Skin looks less healthy.
Can anyone tell me if a body fat of ~10% is low/unhealthy ?
My body weight scales keep telling me, it is, but I’m not so sure.
All my other body metrics seems to be okay, apart from body fat (based on two different impedance scales and US navy body fat calculator). Unfortunately I don’t have access to a DEXA scan as I live in the UK.
Just get a tape measure and measure your waist. Waist/height is still one of the best predictors for general health. (0.4-0.49 is the normal healthy range for males). And these scales are just crap, try standing on them with some weight and see you suddenly have more muscle or take a dumb ans see how they tell you you have just lost muscle
Thank you for that, my waist/ height ratio is 0.405 and waist/hip ratio is 0.92, both are borderline for low.
Hi John,
My lowest DEXA measured body fat was 9.8% and perfectly healthy and looking normal with it so I wouldn’t worry if you are at that level.
I also live in UK and there are places that do DEXA scans here (in London for me; might be harder to find outside of the capital).
Thanks for that, it’s nice to have confirmation. I certainly don’t want to lose anymore body fat.
I found one near me for $165 so I’ll probably try to get it done soon.
Has anyone done a DEXA scan and compared the results to their smart scale?
Please 
post your findings I would be very interested in the results
@Agetron and all
Looks like there is a smart app that can do image based analysis from one’s phone camera…
… anyone try it?
Awesome @Neo, I hadn’t heard of anything like this but I’ll definitely check it out! Thank you
