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Omron Body Logic Pro Body Fat Analyzer

Model HBF 306

Omron offers a revolutionary new way of measuring Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) that is faster, easier, less intrusive and includes a lightweight portable device making this a simple one-step process. A person inputs various personal information such as age, gender, weight and height, then grips the device handles. Electrodes in the hand sensor pads send a low, safe signal through the body. Body Fat content and Body Mass Index is calculated automatically in seconds.

Bioelectrical Impedance (BI) is considered one of the most accurate and accessible methods of screening body fat. It is used in clinician's offices, health clubs and hospitals across a spectrum of ages and body conditions. Muscles, blood vessels and bones are body tissues having a high water content that conduct electricity easily. Body fat is tissue that has little electric conductivity. The Body Fat Analyzer sends an extremely weak electrical current of 50 kHz and 0.5 mA through your body to determine the amount of total body water. The weak electrical current is not felt while operating the Body Fat Analyzer. The body fat percentage is calculated by a formula that uses the measured body water along with five factors; electric resistance, height, weight, age and gender.

The BIA procedure is considered safe because of several factors. One factor is that currents at a frequency of 50 kHz are reported to be unlikely to stimulate electrically excitable tissues, such as nerves or cardiac muscle. Another is the absence of any reports of problematic events induced by BIA, even in the course of thousands of individuals undergoing measurement. A third factor is that relatively small current magnitudes are involved, less than 1 mA, which are less than the threshold of perception. Furthermore, the use of batteries greatly diminishes risks from shock.

Safety Precaution: Bioelectric Impedance Analysis devices pass an extremely weak electrical signal through the body when taking a measurement. This electrical signal is not felt and is safe for individuals without cardiac pacemakers and implanted medical devices. As a precaution, persons with cardiac pacemakers, electrocardiographs and/or other medical devices implanted in the body or used for life support, should not use Bioelectric Impedance Devices.

Body Composition Analysis

Your body is composed of bones, blood, organs, muscle, water and fat. Monitoring and maintaining various aspects of your body composition in the desirable range is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Omron Body Composition Monitors provide information essential for staying healthy and allow you to determine if changes are necessary in your activity level, exercise program and diet.

This device estimates various aspects of your body composition including:

• Body Fat Percentage of your total body weight.

• Body Mass Index

Body Fat Percentage - located under the skin (subcutaneous), between the muscles (intramuscular) and around internal organs (visceral), this tissue serves to provide insulation against heat/cold, protective padding, energy and nutrient stores and proper functioning of hormonal and immune systems. Body Fat Percentage is a measure of the amount of body fat as a proportion of your total body weight. Excess body fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and can contribute to health conditions such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and Osteoarthritis.

Body Mass Index (BMI) - this is a simple calculation to determine a person's height to weight ratio. This method provides a slightly more accurate representation of the body composition than weighing alone, but is not considered a good body composition indicator by health and medical professionals because it doesn't take into consideration muscle mass and other genetic factors. For example, two people can have an elevated BMI reading and one can have normal levels of body fat and the other individual can have undesirable elevated levels of body fat.

BMI = weight (lb.) ÷ height (inch)² x 703

Recommended Body Mass Index*
	Low	Normal	High	Very High
Male & Female	< 18.5	18.5 - 24.9	25.0 - 29.9	≥ 30.0
* values proposed by World Health Organization

Accuracy of Bioelectric Impedance Analysis

Not all Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) body fat analyzers are the same! There are many companies producing weight scales and inexpensive handheld devices providing body fat readings through Bioelectric Impedance Analysis. Omron is a leader in this technology and has done extensive University based research and human testing to develop accurate equations and algorithms used in estimating body fat from BIA technology. The accuracy of Omron BIA analyzers have been highly correlated against clinically accurate body fat analysis methods such as hydrodensitometry (under water weighing), Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Omron has used research information from several hundred people tested under the DXA method to develop the calculation methodology by which their BIA products analyze body fat percentages.

Testing Procedure

Q: Why is it important to monitor body fat percentage?

A: Measuring weight alone is not a completely accurate assessment of health or fitness because it doesn't distinguish pounds that come from fat and pounds that come from lean muscle mass.

 

Q: Are there any illnesses directly linked to obesity?

A: Obesity is directly linked with Diabetes Type II and hypertension, and is a contributing risk factor for many other conditions including heart disease, sleep disorders, arthritis, gall bladder disease, stroke, and several forms of cancer. Awareness and monitoring of body fat percentage can be a motivational tool for a fitness or weight management program. This information is helpful in determining a suitable exercise and nutritional program on an individual basis.

Q: Is it possible to have too little body fat?

A: Yes. Both extremes, too much or too little body fat, put an individual at risk for serious medical and/or psychological conditions. Having a very low body fat percentage, particularly for women, can result in musculoskeletal problems and osteoporosis and it can upset the hormonal balance causing loss of menstruation.

 

Q: Are there optimal conditions for determining body fat percentage using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis?

A: Yes, there are:

• Select a consistent time of day, and stick to it.

• Test with an empty bladder.

• Test when normally hydrated.

• Avoid measurement immediately after eating and bathing.

• Before a meal or at least two hours after a meal is best.

• Unclean foot pads may interfere with conductivity.

Things that can affect hydration include:

• Strenuous exercise.

• Recent food intake.

• Diuretics such as caffeine, alcohol and certain medications.

Early morning is not recommended because the body is often dehydrated after a night's sleep. Once you have established your baseline, monitor body fat about twice a month.  Checking body fat more frequently is not beneficial as changes occur slowly over time.

Q:  Are there people for whom the monitor is not appropriate?

A:  People with pacemakers are advised not to use the monitors. Although there are no known health risks, this is a precaution that is advocated by all manufacturers of BIA. Accuracy is an issue for certain categories of people, but the units may still be used to monitor trends and accurately show degree of change.

Individuals in which accuracy may vary include:

• Children in growth stage.

• Patients with Osteoporosis who have low bone density.

• Post menopausal women.

• Pregnant women.

• People who exceed the weight capacity of the scale (models vary) and/or exceed 75% body fat.

• Professional athletes and bodybuilders.

• Persons on dialysis.

• Persons suffering from edema.

• Adults 70 years old and older

Q. Can you use the Body Logic Fat Analyzer if pregnant?

A. Consult your physician prior to using this product. Never start a weight reduction or exercise program without instructions from your healthcare provider.

Q. Can the Omron HBF-306 Body Fat Analyzer display results in metrics?

A. Yes, you can change the LCD display from US to metric mode.

Q. I'm an athlete. Can I use the Omron HBF-306 Body Fat Analyzer?

A. Yes, the HBF-306 Body Fat Analyzer has an athlete mode for accurate results. Included chart provides guidelines based on the FIT index (Frequency, Intensity and Time) to determine which mode to use, Athlete or Normal.

Q. What is the age appropriateness for the Body Logic Body Fat Analyzer?

A. Omron's body fat devices are appropriate for males/females between the ages of 10 to 80 years old. In the athletic mode the age is 18 to 60 years old.

Q: What type of maintenance is necessary?

A: No maintenance is required other than to use a soft dry cloth to clean the unit and/or use of alcohol to sanitize the hand sensor pads. Avoid abrasive or volatile chemical cleaners.

Specifications

• Height Range: 3'4" to 6'6."

• Weight Range: 23 lbs. to 440.5 lbs.

• Age: Normal Mode - 10 to 80 years old.

• Age: Athlete Mode - 18 to 60 years old.

• Display: Body Fat Percentage - 4% to 50%.

• Display: BMI - 7 to 19.

• Display: BMI Classification - 4 levels.

• Operating Temperature: 50°F  to 104°F.

• Operating Humidity: 30% to 85% RH.

Features

• Handheld device, simply input your personal information and grasp handles with outstretched arms and read your Body Fat Percentage and Body Mass Index in seconds.

• Very portable. Take anywhere.

• Uses Bioelectrical Impedance Method for estimating body fat and provides BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation.

• Two modes for accurate results for athletes and non-athletes. Guidelines provided based on the FIT index (Frequency, Intensity and Time) to determine which mode to use, Athlete or Normal.

• Measurement results in 7 seconds.

• Save time with 9 person profile memory. Stores height, weight, age and gender for 9 individuals. No need for constant re-input.

• Guest Function - allows guest to check body fat without storing personal data in memory.

• Suitable for Height 3' 4" to 6' 6", weight 23 lbs to 440.5 lbs and age 10 to 80 years old (athlete mode 18 to 60 years old).

• Includes illustrated instruction manual.

• Uses 2 AAA batteries, included. Battery life is 1 year when used twice a day.

• Weighs only 8 ounces (not including batteries).

• Dimensions: 8"L x 5"H x 2"W

• 1 year warranty.

Body Logic Pro Body Fat Analyzer

Price: $52.95

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