Fat % seems to be wrong

The means used to produce any of the numbers other than weight and BMI are virtually guaranteed to be highly inaccurate for most people. The scale passes a minute current through your body from the surface of the scale. From this they algorithmically infer the other numbers. I believe BMI is based on weight and the height you’ve recorded in Garmin Connect.

As absolute numbers, I don’t consider them meaningful. If you take your daily readings in a very uniform way, say always immediately after rising, then trends up or down over time are probably valid. Even then, whether you have a full vs. and empty bladder or digestive tract is going to bias the weight and hence all the other numbers. Likewise for any degree of dehydration.

It’s a cute “feature,” but not to be considered accurate. As far as I know, the only accurate way to measure percentage of body fat is via water displacement (comparing your volume to your mass).

Check your "Activity Class" number in your Garmin Connect profile. If it is set over 8, 9 or 10, the BF percentage be almost constant around 7%.

BR,
Ricardo.

it is the problem due to the FW version 2,70; the same happened to me, waiting for the new release:
https://forums.garmin.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37448&d=1473495318

I had the same issue. My Index scale was telling me I was around 8% bf. I know what 8% bf looks like and that unfortunately is not me. I also had a problem with it syncing to MyFitnessPal account. It used to sync weight with MFP but then it all of a sudden stopped working.

I really wanted to keep my Garmin Index but I never even got a response from their customer support. I returned the scale within my 30 day window and got a Withings Body Cardio. The bodyfat is much closer at 14% and it syncs flawlessly with MyFitnessPal. I liked the look, feel and display on the Garmin much more but it just didn't work for me.

It's a shame Garmin lost a client and I could have easily been saved as a customer.

Thanks

it is the problem due to the FW version 2,70; the same happened to me, waiting for the new release:
https://forums.garmin.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37448&d=1473495318

Ciao Marco Are you sure?? i really hope that you're right.

io purtroppo ho comincaito a pesarmi con la 2.70..solo un mio amcio col firmware prima..basterebbe far ripesare lui..per avere un'ulteriore conferma..

Inaccurate body fat percentage on Smart Scale

Indeed, very frustrating.. I also moved away from Polar devices (and Balance) for the following reasons;
1. To have all data (run/bike/health..) consolidated on 1 platform
2. Polar balance only shows weight and really wanted to have more data, especially fat %)

Measured BF % this week on a Tanita which was 20% but the "smart" scale showed 13,5% which for sure is way off reality !
So i paid twice the amount of the Polar Balance and still have no accurate BF..
Not impressed Garmin !! :mad::(

Ciao Marco Are you sure?? i really hope that you're right.

io purtroppo ho comincaito a pesarmi con la 2.70..solo un mio amcio col firmware prima..basterebbe far ripesare lui..per avere un'ulteriore conferma..

io la ho ricevuta oggi. Prima usavo una Oregon Scientific, vecchia ma affidabile.
Massa grassa con la Oregon: 13,5 %
Massa grassa con la Garmin: 7,6 %

So per certo (riscontri usando altri strumenti) che la Oregon è affidabile per cui evidentemente il valore Garmin è sballato.