Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Body Fat % on Index S2 Smart Scale Seems Inaccurate

Jeff
over 3 years ago

My new scale seems to give me a wildly different reading than my old one. I was previously using a Weight Guru's scale which gave me a body fat percentage between 18 and 19 percent which seems reasonable given my overall weight and fitness level. The new Garmin scale shows me over 26% body fat. Both scales show identical weight so what gives with the wild body fat numbers? 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    add me too.  InBody 9% vs Index S2 22%. After switching activity to 10 Index S2 measured 19%. It's totally useless.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin-Kevin

    Please add me to the case too

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin-Kevin

    Please add me to the case too

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I juts got the Garmin Index S2 scale and it gives me a bf% or 25.8, while a medical Dexa scan (or calipers) give me about 13%... I am going to return the scale. I hope Garmin does something about it....

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Same issue - I'm 55 and exercise a lot.  For the last 5 years my Tanita scale has shown daily body fat between 17-19%.  Today my new S2 says 23.4%.  The Tanita scale had an 'athlete' switch (which I had set to 'off' as I didn't meet the guidelines).  Maybe Garmin need a similar option? 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to extrastrong

    It actually has such a switch... In your profile, you can add your activity level, and it showed up after I added the scale. Not that it mattered.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin-Kevin

    The only solution is to actually manufacture a new scale that does what it says with electrical impedence.  Fooling with an algorithm does nothing for fit, aging athletes. You know, the majority of Garmin consumers? The scale as it is now is nothing but an overpriced produce scale.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to MatthieuBrucher

    Thanks - I'd already set my level to 10; it didn't seem to make a difference.  On my Tanita scale, my body fat reading was about 17.5% (standard setting) and around 9% when I selected Athlete Mode.  My true measure is probably about 15%.  The Tanita guidance is to select Athlete Mode if you do 12+ hours of intensive exercise per week and have a resting heart rate below 60.  My conclusion is that electrical impedance just isn't an accurate way to measure body fat.  I guess consistent inaccuracy is the best we can hope for.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    So, this is still not fixed? I just upgraded a few days ago from Index to Index S2 and was happy that it's connecting to WiFi properly, but then I noticed the fat % is completely off the chart. I've been toning in the last few months and I got down to 12% on the old Index, which is realistic. The Index S2 shows me 23% which is completely off. Then I stumbled upon this thread. If it's still not fixed, then I guess I'm sending the S2 back. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to croatach

    Basically the scales just do a body fat calculation based on height/weight/age/BMI. I can get the exact same BF% putting my details into an online BMI based calculator at 19%. True figure is probably around 14%. It’s a nonsense that they are sold as electrical impedance scales but the truth is they are just an expensive calculator!