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

[Courtney14]

In the app, click in the upper right hand corner, on Your Account. 

Click on Aria

People Using this Scale

Click on your name

Change to Lean Mode

[LottieD]

Thank you, couldn’t have found it without your help.

Sent from my iPhone

[Juicyjason]

Thank you for your help!!

[ObSkewer]

Only in the iOS app? Tapping on my name does nothing in the Android app.

And, like everyone else on this thread, I have pretty much given up on the Aria's fat rating...

[KBDAN]

NOPE! The “remove batteries for 15 seconds, weigh yourself 5 times” idea doesn’t work. Many of us have experienced massive fluctuations in bf% after reconnecting to our network (a move, a change of router, power failure, etc). This “fix” is anything but!  You might as well ask us to do all of that then spin around five times, cross our fingers, close our eyes and hope it corrects.  The bf% metric went up by over a full 10% points in one day and remains that high after more than 3 years of a relatively constant figure.  

Can anyone there offer a REAL solution?

[LottieD]

Change your sex, age or body type!

Sent from my iPhone

[RMaria]

I have  come to the conclusion that this scale is a fraud as far as body fat percentage goes.  Within a few months I noticed that although I lost weight,  through weightlifting, my body fat, disregarding the fluctuations remained at the same percentage, meaning I lost only lean and gained fat. Any physiologist will tell you that is impossible even for someone who doesn't exercise.

I want the Moderator  to answer this question:. If your scale measures body fat through electrical impedance, then how on Earth should any factor aside from height matter? Why would age make *any* difference????  I didn't realize people were experiencing this until I read the forum. I am guessing the electrical impedance thing doesn't work at all and fitbit is perpetrating a great fraud by fudging the numbers using weight and the other statistics you put into the app.

I have gotten a replacement scale and it is just as bad as the first one.

[talprofs]

@MatthewFitbit 

Your answer, as has been pointed out by other uses is NOT a solution.
I recently had to reconfigure my Aria scale, and it now shows double the body fat percentage which it previously did.  I have had the scale for around five years, and it has never shown this error before now.

By way of a test today (Monday 23rd September), I took three readings:
10:30 BST: 76.8kg / 32.9% BF
10:31 BST: 76.7 / 33% BF
10:32 BST: 76.8kg / 33.2% BF

This contrasts with the reading I took on Sunday 22nd September:
Manual: 76.8kg / 17.8% BF

So, what IS the solution?

@MatthewFitbit 

The SOLUTION to the issue of the Aria scale incorrectly showing double-percentage body fat measurements can be found here - in a post by another FitBit forum moderator, @JuanJoFitbit :

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Aria-Scales/Body-fat-doubled-overnight/m-p/2092656/highlight/false#M...

If this solution (re-setting the Aria scale and taking FIVE successive weigh-in measurements for calibration purposes) does not work, then the recommendation is to have the Aria scale replaced.

talprofs

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Mikeyfrombow]

Same here...

[triciakix]

Wonder if if this is still the case for you and your wife? Just got the aria 2 and my brother who has a six pack and is 163 came out with 30%. Oye.

could dehydration play a role?

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Michael58]

I suggest he give up the six pack beer 🍺 and drink plenty of water.
Stopped considering the fat %

[laknott]

I posted the(this) original post back in early 2017 and I am still getting responses (wow) the same complaints I made back then. I dont think Fit Bit is ever going to fix this.. it just doesnt work for percentage of body fat and NEVER willno matter what the work-around is.. This is why back then I bought a nice handheld device that works great!!

[Kjoydeel87]

I wish I had seen this thread prior to spending $100 on a scale that isn’t accurate. Pretty frustrating. I bought the scale FOR the body fat number and it’s going up while my weight is going down and I work out 5 days a week. Pretty inaccurate. Also the ad originally said it measures muscle precnentage also. No where does it show my muscle increasing on the app. False advertising. 

[Sanandan]

Why the moderators are not responding? Surprisingly, my Aria 1 used to give me a reading of 26% and Aria 2 has made it 18%. I don't know if either of them are accurate..

[CELR]

Hi, I got the Aria scales just after Christmas. My prior to this my old scales were showing me as 22% body fat but the Aria are showing between 27-29. I know from looking at myself that I have only lost a few pounds but have definitely lost fat and gained muscle but the scales are showing much higher than my old ones and are showing by body fat % gradually increasing even with only a small weight loss and define muscle gain. I’ve followed your advice if talking the batteries out then reweighing 5 times but this has not resolved it. This is very disappointing as I’m an avid Fitbit wearer and was really hoping your scales would live up to your trackers but this one clearly doesn’t 😞

[MatthewFitbit]

@Kjoydeel87 I'd recommend checking this post at the start of the thread - it is normal for body fat percentage to increase when you lose weight, and that post will explain why. The Aria scale measures weight and body fat percentage, but is not advertised to measure "muscle percentage." If you can show me the advertisement you mentioned, I'll be happy to take a look.

@CELR It's important to remember that every body-fat measurement is an estimate - there is no method that can give you this number with precision. Since every device has its own unique way of making that estimate, it's normal to see varying results across different devices. As long as you're seeing consistent measurements on your Aria, that will help you chart progress over time and work toward a goal.

[LottieD]

I was at the start of this post. The Aria does not measure body fat percentage accurately so this feature is entirely useless and Fitbit should accept this and change how they calculate it.

Sent from my iPhone

[CELR]

Thank you Lottie, I agree. I accept if you loose weight but your body fat stays the same then your % will increase, but I can see in the mirror that I have only lost a bit of weight but have definitely lost body fat and gained muscle mass so it must be inaccurate that my body fat has increased. I have to say it is very disappointing as the purpose of the scales is for ease of tracking these things. Thanks 

Moderator edit: format

[mangoeater]

Is there a statement how accurate of a reading I should be able to expect. This thread has started in 2015 !!!  and there is still no answer for the consumer. It should advertise at least +/- 30% accuracy to avoid any disappointment. I wonder how many people would still buy it if they would know they can't expect a realistic result. If I just want to guess I can use a mirror as well.

[Misschinnie]

Same issue after rest WiFi, something is wrong with the software somewhere.  Wit try we incorrect for years or incorrect now. My body fat is up almost 10% from last year.