Weight Management Weight Loss Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) Use a BIA Scale to Meet Fitness and Weight Loss Goals By Malia Frey Malia Frey Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 06, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anisha Shah, MD Medically reviewed by Anisha Shah, MD LinkedIn Anisha Shah, MD, is a board-certified internist, interventional cardiologist, and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Adah Chung Fact checked by Adah Chung LinkedIn Adah Chung is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and occupational therapist. Learn about our editorial process Print Stockbyte/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Accuracy Making a Purchase Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method for measuring body composition based on the rate at which an electrical current travels through the body. Body fat (adipose tissue) causes greater resistance (impedance) than fat-free mass and slows the rate at which the current travels. BIA scales estimate body fat percent using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Overview You've probably seen body fat scales on store shelves or online that use bioelectrical impedance analysis. Since the scales can be expensive, you've probably wondered what is bioelectrical impedance analysis and is it worth paying for? How You Can Reduce Non-Essential or Excess Body Fat BIA Definition While the term "bioelectrical impedance analysis" sounds fairly complicated, BIA devices use straightforward technology. BIA measures the rate at which a painless low-level electrical current travels through your body. Based on that rate, a calculation is used to estimate fat-free mass. The device then uses other data such as your height, your gender, and weight measurements to determine your body fat percent. Types of BIA Devices There are different types of BIA devices, but each device requires two points of contact. On a handheld device the two points are your two hands (called hand-hand BIA). On a typical BIA scale, the two points of contact are your two feet (called foot-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis). This means that when you use the device, you place each foot on a pad and the current travels through your body between your feet. There are also hand-to-foot BIA devices, as well. There are many brands that make different types of BIA scales (also called bioimpedance scales), including Omron, Tanita, Fitbit, Polar, and Homedics. Many of the newer models of BIA scales link with a smartphone app so you can track your progress over time. The price of your BIA scale will depend on how sophisticated the product is. Some scales use more than one frequency and more advanced algorithms to provide a result. And some provide segmental fat analysis—meaning that you can get body fat measurements for each leg, each arm, and the belly. Some say that segmental fat analysis (using hand-foot BIA) is more accurate because hand-hand devices primarily measure the upper body, while foot-foot scales primarily measure the lower body. Is BIA Safe? Bioelectrical impedance analysis devices are considered safe for most people. However, BIA should not be used by anyone with an electronic medical implant, such as a heart pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Also, most device makers recommend that the products not be used by pregnant women. Accuracy Some studies published in 2015 showed that bioelectrical impedance analysis is a fairly accurate method for estimating body fat. But these research studies generally do not test the scales you find in the store. And experts generally agree that the accuracy of the measurement depends, in part, on the quality of the device. In addition, there are other factors that may affect a reading when you use a BIA scale. Body weight. Bioelectrical impedance analysis may be less accurate in obese people. Hydration level. Dehydration may cause fat-free mass (muscle and bone) to be underestimated. Recent exercise activity. High-intensity exercise may affect the accuracy of BIA readings. Training load. Some scales have a special setting for athletes who train more often. The settings are intended to increase accuracy. Recent food or drink intake. The results of a 2015 study suggest that BIA may be more accurate after overnight fasting. Some researchers in 2008 also say that ethnicity and environmental factors (like skin temperature) can affect the accuracy of BIA measurements. Should You Buy One? Even if you get an accurate reading on a bioimpedance scale, the number represents an estimate of your total body fat percentage. Bioelectrical impedance analysis does not provide an exact measurement of your total body fat. Most scales also cannot tell you where fat is located on your body. So is it worth it to buy a scale that uses bioelectrical impedance? For many people, it might be. Even though there are many factors that can affect the accuracy of your reading, a BIA scale used regularly can show you changes in your body fat over time. The actual number may not be perfect, but you can still track changes to your body composition with diet or exercise. Additionally, if you use a fitness tracker by brands like Fitbit, you can get a scale to pair with the device and track all of your body metrics in one place. The Fitbit Aria 2 wi-fi smart scale that measures weight, body fat, and body mass index. The numbers seamlessly sync with the Fitbit dashboard so you can see how the numbers develop over time along with daily activity and diet changes. 4 Effective Ways to Track Your Weight Loss Progress A Word From Verywell Since many BIA scales offer several features for a reasonable cost and because it is a quick and easy way to estimate body fat percent, body fat scales that use bioelectrical impedance analysis are a worthwhile investment for many consumers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gagnon C, Ménard J, Bourbonnais A, et al. Comparison of Foot-to-Foot and Hand-to-Foot Bioelectrical Impedance Methods in a Population with a Wide Range of Body Mass Indices. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2010;8(5):437-441. doi:10.1089/met.2010.0013 Demura S, Sato S. Comparisons of accuracy of estimating percent body fat by four bioelectrical impedance devices with different frequency and induction system of electrical current. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2015;55(1-2):68-75. Dehghan M, Merchant AT. Is bioelectrical impedance accurate for use in large epidemiological studies? Nutr J. 2008;7:26. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-26 Androutsos O, Gerasimidis K, Karanikolou A, Reilly JJ, Edwards CA. Impact of eating and drinking on body composition measurements by bioelectrical impedance. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015;28(2):165-171. doi:10.1111/jhn.12259