Bod Pod Body Fat Testing

Why body fat testing?

A body fat test reveals your body composition, or how much of you is lean body mass (muscle, organs, bone, etc.) and how much is fat. This comes in handy when you’re trying to lose weight because you want to lose as much pure fat and maintain as much muscle as possible. A scale can only tell you how much total weight you’re losing – it could be all muscle!

Body fat testing is also advantageous for people trying to gain weight. Bodybuilders or figure competitors trying to “bulk up” typically want to add as much muscle and as little fat as possible. Regular body fat testing can reveal how much of that bulk is muscle and how much is fat.

We recommend a body fat test every 2-4 weeks to make sure your diet and activity level are supporting your body composition goals.

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Bod Pod

Another benefit of body fat testing is that it lets you know your risk for obesity-related diseases. Having too much body fat can increase the risk of type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Having too little body fat can be problematic as well and can lead to hormone deficiencies, infertility, an increased risk of osteoporosis, and other health issues. The chart below shows ideal body fat ranges for men and women:

	Men	Women
Risky/too low	<5%	<14%
Lean	6-12%	15-21%
Average	13-20%	22-29%
Overweight	21-30%	30-40%
Obese	>30%	>40%

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What’s the best body fat testing method?

There are several different methods of body fat testing including underwater hydrostatic weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), air displacement plethysmography, and calipers. They all have pros and cons, but when you consider the duration, simplicity, price, and accuracy of the test, air displacement plethysmography – using the Bod Pod – reigns supreme.

Pros and Cons of Various Body Fat Testing Protocols
Test	Pros	Cons
Bod Pod (air displacement plethysmography)	- Fast– about 10 minutes total- Simple – no water, x-rays, or fat pinching - Accurate - Versatile – can be used for multiple populations (obese, children, disabled) - Inexpensive – only $79 per test	- None
Underwater weighing	- Accurate (when performed correctly)	- Time consuming- Fully exhaling all of your air under water can produce anxiety for many people - Limited to universities
Bioelectrical impedance	- Inexpensive- Portable	- Inaccurate – the least accurate body fat testing method
DEXA	- Accurate- Can also measures bone density - Fast	- Expensive – a single test can cost as much as $300
Calipers	- Inexpensive- Portable	- Inaccurate – accuracy depends on the quality of the calipers and the experience of the tester- Embarrassing – there’s not much worse than having a stranger pinch your fat

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How do I prepare for my body fat test with the Bod Pod in Scottsdale?

The Bod Pod body fat test requires that you are fasted (no food or water) and have refrained from exercise for at least three hours prior to the test. This makes an early morning test the best option for most people, but tests later in the day are fine as long as you rest and fast for at least three hours prior. You should also refrain from using any skin lotions or creams before your test or wearing any jewelry.

The Bod Pod body fat test requires specific clothing. Men should wear spandex/lycra shorts (no underwear underneath) and a swim cap. Women should wear a spandex/lycra swimsuit or shorts and a sports bra and a swim cap. We can provide clean spandex/lycra shorts and a swim cap.

Approved clothing for the Bod Pod body fat test

Due to the sensitivity of the Bod Pod testing equipment, you should also make a note of the amount of body and facial hair on the day of your test. If you shave your arms, legs, or face the day before your first body fat test, make sure you do the same before any subsequent tests. Shaving off a beard, for example, can change the result of a Bod Pod body fat test as much as 1%.