Tanita UM-030 body water monitoring scales use Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA), the same accurate technology used for monitoring body fat. BIA sends a safe, low-level electrical signal through the body. You enter your age, gender and height, then step onto the scale. The signal passes with less resistance through the fluids contained in muscle tissue and blood, but it encounters more resistance when passing through fat tissue, which contains little water. By using the impedance reading, gender, height and weight, the scale can quickly and reliably calculate body fat, total body water percentages and other UM-030 features described below.

Tanita UM-030 Features

·         Body fat %

·         Body water %

·         Healthy Range Indicator (are you at high or low risk of serious disease?)

·         Weight Only Mode (quick, without BIA scan)

·         Guest Mode (measure your friends!)

·         4 personal user files

·         Athlete mode.

Tanita UM-030 Technical Specifications:

·         Electrodes: 4

·         User Memories: 4

·         Power Supply: 2x CR2032 supplied

·         Size of Display: Single line.

·         Weight Capacity: 150 kg

·         Weight Increments: 100 g (0.1kg)

·         Measuring current: Single 50kHz; 500uA

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis "weighs" each of the different kinds of tissue in your body. It measures the amount of muscle and other lean tissue, like your organs, and the amount of fat and water in your body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is based on the conductive and non-conductive properties that exist in biological tissues. Most of the body's fat-free mass is composed of conductive tissues such as muscle, while fat is part of the non-conductive tissue mass. The volume of these tissues can be estimated from the measurement of the resistance to an applied electric current flowing through the body.

BIA measures the impedance or resistance to the signal as it travels through the water that is found in muscle and fat. The more muscle a person has, the more water their body can hold. The greater the amount of water in a person's body, the easier it is for the current to pass through it. The more fat, the more resistance to the current. BIA is safe and it does not hurt. In fact, the signal used in body fat monitors can not be felt at all either by an adult or child.

Why Monitor Your Body Water Percent?
Most people do not drink enough water and are mildly hydrated. You continually lose water through normal daily activities. It is important to monitor your body water percentage because of the level of dehydration due to sweating, breathing, urinating, illness, etc. If you know your body water percentage, you are better equipped to take in more fluids. This will keep you feeling energised and operating at peak performance, reducing the risk of disease and keeping you healthy.

Normal Total Body Water Percentage (TBW %) Ranges
FEMALES 50-55%, MALES 60-65% - For athletes, the figure is approximately 5% above these ranges, because of greater muscle mass. Skeletal muscle contains more water than fat (adipose) tissue.