Weight loss?

[rckoegel]

I realize that it's appropriate for severely overweight individuals to focus primarily on healthy weight loss while initially pursuing a personal state of fitness, but I'm really confused as to why FitBit doesn't come along with the equal ability to focus on body fat percentage, as that is a greater defining characteristic of fitness than weight itself.

Is there anyone out there that can enlighten me as to the reason for FitBit neglecting this aspect of fitness, or others, for so long? Or has anyone heard of any plans FitBit might have to incorporate other factors into their system. Such as: body fat percentage goals; calorie burning challenges; or other exercise specific challenges, like running more, biking more, lifting more weight per week (all challenges present currently are step based, which is very superficial)?

And yes, I do realize that the FitBit system does track and show other traits and stats, and that individuals can choose to look at those, or use other apps as well. The question is: why aren't there options to focus primarily on those things while choosing goals, or participating in challenges? Not why can't individual choose to focus on those things personally. Obviously they can do that with or without FitBit's services.

It just seems to me that it would be a fairly easy thing to do, to integrate goal options for characteristics that are already tracked by FitBit. Or, also, to expand the Challenge system to include challenges that focus on other aspects that are, again, already tracked by FitBit.

[SuperStephSteph]

I know that the Fitbit Aria (the scale) measures and keeps track of your body fat percentage, so if you end up getting the scale there should be a metric for it. I agree that it would be great if you could measure and manually input your body fat though! 

[DominicJ]

Weight is cheap and easy to measure accuratly and consistantly.

Body fat is very hard to measure accurately and consistantly, even with very high tech equipment

I weigh 81kg at the moment,

If I drink a litre of water, I'll weigh 82kg

Thats just a fact.  Not a terribly useful fact, but a fact all the same.

Even with x-rays, ultrasounds, impedance tests and whatever other method you want to try, you arent going to get a reading that accepts I gained a kg of water and have a lower bf%, and you may not even want that number.

[SunsetRunner]

You can manually enter body fat percentage. If you go to the Log tab on dashboard and click weight, in the Log Weight section there is also a Body Fat bit where you put it in.

[rckoegel]

Well, thanks for the attention, but so far the responses do not address the questions asked.

[HelenaFitbit · Accepted solution]

Thank you for reaching out @rckoegel! While your tracker itself cannot measure your Body Fat percentage, the Fitbit Aria can track your body fat percentage along with your BMI, lean mass and weight. 

Your weight loss goal is not neglected even if you do not have an Aria. We also have your Food plan goal, based on a caloric deficit set and our Fitbit Premium users can use the Trainer Fitness Plan which is a 12 week goal to increase your activity. 

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll be glad to help! 

[rckoegel]

Please read my initial post: "The question is: why aren't there options to focus primarily on those things [body fat, or activites other than steps] while choosing goals, or participating in challenges? Not why can't individual choose to focus on those things personally."

I just love how so many seemingly smart people can fail to comprehend what is actually written, and instead read it as saying something else that is similar or about the same topic. It reminds me of people who don't listen but instead just wait for their chance to talk.

[rckoegel]

"Weight is cheap and easy to measure accuratly and consistantly."

That is surely true, but it does not make for a rational reason to neglect the option to choose a body fat percentage goal to focus on achieving.

I have an Aria scale, it says I have a BF% of 17 (+/-1), my goal is 14. The swing I see from changes in hydration are so small that choosing to focus on a 4% change isn't affected by the inaccuracy of the BF% measurement offered by the scale.... further, if my BF% was 30, and I was shooting for 12, that would only be an easier variation to measure.

Similarily, if I reach 14, and I decide I want to be a little more lean, I can shoot for 12 or 10.... but what I can't do is tell Fitbit to show my progress toward reaching those goals--front and center on the dashboard.

Fitbit focuses on weight, calories, and steps... there's other information tracked, but it's not the focus. I want to be able to choose the focus. The data is already there, technically, so this should really be an easy thing to add to the service.

[SuperStephSteph]

Is it just me or should you maybe be polite instead of crappy to people that are trying to answer your question? This is a place for people to support each other not for people to get snotty.

[HelenaFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hey there guys! I have to jump in the thread to remember everyone to keep this polite and conversational.

Let's not put anyone down for trying to help out mmkay? 

@rckoegel This feature is not available on the platform, but I certainly encourage you to vote for this and provide Feedback on our Feature Requests Board. It's the perfect place to get the attention of our Developers. 

Hope to see you around the forums! Let me know if you have any questions 

[Trooper]

I don't focus on statistics or BF percentages. Just simple calorie counting and some excercise. Fitbit has been a blessing to me since I got it. I truly believe that it has prolonged my life span by years and years. Because of what it has done for me, I don't have to worry about diabetes or high blood pressure or other obesity related diseases. I use fitbit to help track what I eat every single day. Today my weight is  199, down from 270 back around November 2014. If you can  just stay focused on counting calories and do some excercise, you should be okay!!

[rckoegel]

That's great, that you've been able to use simple tools to reach your simple goals. Congratulations!

However your comment does not address the issue presented in the original post; which concerns more complicated aspects of fitness management. Please attempt to stay on topic, or create your own. Thanks.

[tomjones1224]

I'm thinking you might be too smart for the rest of us who don't seem to want to go to the moon via FitBit but just want to loose weight, track out exercise and get ourselves healthier.That bein said...good luck in you search for the perfect solution to your query.

[Barb55]

"I just love how so many seemingly smart people can fail to comprehend what is actually written, and instead read it as saying something else that is similar or about the same topic. It reminds me of people who don't listen but instead just wait for their chance to talk."

Holy, moly!  Gosh, would you say this to someone in person?  We all have frustrations in daily life, but lashing out is not the solution.  I hope you find the answer to your question, but I wouldn't blame anyone for not replying due to the tone of your post.

[ErinCorona]

Wow, someone is having a rough day, huh?  Or week...?  I'll never understand how people can be so incredibly rude to other people.  I wonder about it being a parenting failure, but honestly, try harder.  It doesn't make you look smarter to belittle other people, and truly, if you are as much smarter as you apparently think that you are, why would you ask the peanut gallery for assistance?  Hope you life gets better.

[I-train-hard]

rckoegel

It is simply impossible to have a peace of something on your hand that would give you what you want. Fitbit wasn’t design to do that nor could any type of similar device have done that.

 I only use it for hart rate b/c my workouts are very intensive. Fitbit can’t count my steps on Stairmaster….. But it is cheap $$ and bought it.

I use this http://www.tanita.com/en/

Hart rate shows correctly, and that is what I needed.

[Strem2]

I would posit that ultramarathoners have less body fat than weight lifters, just from looking at competitions. If you want to start a challenge, go ahead.  Join one of the communities and open a challenge.  FItbit is a tool allowing the community to focus on whatever they think is important or valuable for them.  One book I read on becomming an Ultramarathoner, or preparing for Iron Man Competitions,  stated that to build stamina, you don't want to go as hard as you can for an hour or two, but to go at a moderate heart rate for several hours a day. As your heart strengthens, and your ability to carry oxygen increases, you will go faster and faster at that same heart rate. So, my first goal is to build stamina. Steps are a great measurement, combined with watching heart rate, and increasing active time per day.  Along the way, I expect to lose fat.

[greenandgroovy]

It is very clear this product does not have the function you desire.  You should have done your research prior to purchasing the product.  Perhaps since you believe yourself to be far superior to all of the people in this fourm you can design your own device that fits your needs.

[BexBJones]

 Hiya,

Just joined the fitbit gang and have spent most of the day looking to see if you can log your existing BF anywhere - finally found the answer here!

Once more question, now I have entered my BF, weight and height etc will my calculated calories burnt etc be more accurate than without my BF (i.e as muscle burns more kcals than fat per kg) - or is the calculation only based on BMI? 

Thanks!

[Anotherworld]

@Trooper

That's an amazing achievement in itself. In your opinion what was the most important metric loosing 70+ pounds.