Aria body fat percentage questions

[CarrieV]

Hi, I have a question on whether it is really possible I'm made up of 33% body fat (according to the aria scale).  Here are my stats:

51 year old woman

5' 6"

132 lbs.

currently wearing a size 6

33% body fat according to the charts means I'm obese.  I don't feel obese.  I know I need to lose 8 more lbs. to be at my ideal weight that I feel best at, but this 33% body fat has been pretty consistent the whole time I've been dieting.  Even after I lose 8 more lbs., I do not think it will be much less than 33% body fat on the aria scale.  I'm definitely not lean, so I know selecting the "lean" category in the settings would not apply to me.

I'm fine with just ignoring this and feeling good about the lbs. I've already lost, but every morning it's still a little depressing to weigh yourself and think how is it possible that 33% of my body is pure fat.

I weigh myself bare foot, dry feet every morning before I shower.  I do not move the scale.  It is sitting on the floor in my bedroom, same spot as always.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[jdc115]

>>I've done this multiple times. It's tedious and ineffective.

Same here. Is there s way to restore to factory setting and start again?  I have noticed that my scale has never needed a firmware update after all these years. I would have thought by now there would have been some improvements made in the software to push out. 

[JuanJoFitbit]

@HybridByNature Thank you for getting back! Since the issue persists, I'll send your case to our Customer Support department so they can investigate further and provide a solution for you. Please keep an eye on your email account.

@LottieD Please check out your email account since our Support team will contact you via email in order to follow up on this issue.

@laknott Please let me know if you have an Aria 1 or Aria 2. This info will help me to assist you accordingly. I ask this since you mentioned that you selected the option to show your BMI on the Aria itself. This option can only be enabled for the Aria 2.

@jdc115 I'm really sorry to hear that the issue persists and it seems that you've done all the troubleshooting steps. I will also send your case to our Support team so they can follow up on this issue.

I'll be around if more assistance is needed!

[dali137]

I reset mine recently from scratch after a move to a new house and still says I am "overweight" and the same percentage I was in the past despite losing 13lbs on the scale and gaining tons of muscle in addition. I no longer even believe the number is just too high, It definitely isn't showing any change beyond 1-2% over all the above fat loss / muscle gains. I wasn't obese to start either.  A loss of at least 13lbs of fat at a normal BMI should show a marked change in the body fat %. 

I love the data dashboard and I love that my scale automatically syncs but Fitbit has basically lost me as a hardware customer after buying 3 trackers that ALL needed to be replaced several times and the issues with this scale. At this price point, I expect more out of the product.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@dali137 Thank you for getting back! I want to follow up on your case and would like you to try some troubleshooting steps: Restart your scale by taking out the batteries for 15 seconds and put them back in. Once this has been done, weigh yourself 5 times in a row in order to re-calibrate your scale and see if your body fat is more accurate.

If you already tried these steps, let me know and I'll be happy to assist you accordingly! 

[dali137]

Yeah, I tried that. I also recently totally reconnected the scale and struggled for a while to get it on my home network. I moved last fall and struggled with the scale a couple times and then gave up connecting it until April this year. Since then I have tried re-calibrating, resetting, etc. The thing also seems to turn on and stay on for no reason, sometimes in the middle of the night. Pretty much done trying with it. I got the scale to save time and frustration tracking things... all that saved effort has gone into annoyance over the inconsistencies, inaccuracies and general confusion.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@dali137 I appreciate the time invested in troubleshooting this issue. I'll forward your case to our Customer Support team and they'll be happy to follow up and find a solution for you.

Keep me posted if you have any questions! 

[LoriBee]

I have done what you suggest no fewer than 7 times over the past year, nothing changes. I wish I had never purchased this scale!

[JuanJoFitbit]

@LoriBee Thank you for taking the time to try the workarounds that were recommended previously. Our Support team will be happy to follow up on your case and find a solution for you.

Don't hesitate to get back if you need further assistance! 

[BillyCarlsen]

I doubt if my scale has ever worked properly for fat percentage.  I think it is a hoax.  I have an Aria 1 and I'm not pleased that Aria has not resovlved the problems.  I have done all of the steps you have suggested and it still gives the wrong reading.  Please send this to customer support.  I want a refund.  Will Carlsen

[jboyle1115]

This is just a user forum so we don’t have anything to do with Fitbit support

Sent from my iPhone

[Itsonlyneedham]

I take it we just ignore the body fat figures then? I only came on here to see how it works it out.....and apparently it doesn't!

I bought mine for weight and it is incredibly accurate for that, so it doesn't bother me too much.

[Susan56horse]

Exactly mine now says I am 14.6% my handheld said I'm 40% lol

Get Outlook for Android

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking about getting one but I will put that idea in the bin where I would be putting my aria if i bought one

[Bkenneyk]

I have lost 50 pounds and my BMI has remained nearly the same on my scale.  If I do the calculations without the scale, my BMI is lower.  There is something amiss with the scale reading.  It needs to be acknowledged and adjusted.

[Michael58]

My body fat % has always hovered around 31-33%. Eventhough I have been loosing wieght consistently over last 6 months. Recently the batteries went flat and I had to be replaced so I needed to reset. Now my body fat is now consistently 21-22%. Gratifying! But accurate??

[JuanJoFitbit]

@Michael58 Welcome to our Fitbit Community! I'm glad to hear that your Aria scale is providing more accurate body fat readings after you replaced the batteries. Thank you for posting the update here.

I'd like to invite you to visit our Discussions board where you can share your experiences, meet people and create new topics.

Hope to see you in our Fitbit Community more often! 

[AlaaBarky]

Hello

I am having the same issue. What ever I do it shows fat % around 30%. I compared the result with the result I got from a professional machine at my Local Gym, there is a huge different 10%!

I tried to explain that to Fitbit support, but they gave me answers like “ Different technique leads to different result” !! Non sense! 

When I ask about the accuracy, I get the answer: It’s accurate! I don’t understand that!

tell me it’s measuring with the accuracy of +/- 3% within the area 0-85 % of the MAX.

it’s very obvious that we all have the same challenge with the same issue: Fat measurements!

I belive that the Fitbit scale is not able to measure the fat percentage with reasonable accuracy !

If I am wrong Fitbit please prove it!

[JuanJoFitbit]

@AlaaBarky Thank you for joining us in this thread and our Fitbit Community! I'm sorry to hear that your Aria scale is not providing accurate body fat readings. I totally understand how frustrating this is for you. I was able to reach our Support team and since your case was already being handled by our Support team, they will contact you via email soon so they can follow up on this issue.

I appreciate your patience and understanding with this.

[LottieD]

Sadly the support team won’t be able to help. If you want a more sensible reading cut or age!

Sent from my iPhone

[Itsonlyneedham]

So, I've just changed my Wifi settings. I removed the batteries and reset it.

Now my bodyfat is 49% instead of the 36%-40% it was before.

Just because I took the batteries out!!