Daily Diet Blog

There are devices on the market today that measure your body composition and also your metabolic age.  The reasoning behind these machines being useful tools in assessing your health is that the number of pounds you weigh is not as important as the proportion of fat to muscle.
These measurement devices look, for the most part, similar in shape and usage to a bathroom scale.  Prices can range from $30.00 to $300.00.  The manner in which they work is called bioelectrical impedance.  A small current passes through either foot pads or hand held electrodes.  The current slows down in fat tissue but passes quickly through muscle.
Therefore, the measure of impedance together with the mathematical figuring of the machine determine the percent of fat to lean body mass.  The ideal measure for men is to have less than 20 % of their body composition from fat.   For women, the ideal percent of fat should be under 33% of their body composition.
Some of the machines measure more than body composition of fat to lean muscle.  In addition, some measure hydration levels, how many pounds of bone, how much muscle, fat around vital organs and calories you need to eat in a day.  With all this information, these devices measure your metabolic age. 
Here’s a few examples of monitors for body composition information that are available today.  The Tanita UM061 sells for about $32.00 and it measures you from the feet and gives you your weight, body fat,  and percent water information.   The Homedics 540 sells for approximately $60.00 and measures your weight, body fat, percent water, percent muscle, bone mass and daily caloric estimate.  This one measures you from your feet.
The Omron Body Logic also sells for $60.00 and measures from the hands instead.   It informs you of body fat, and your body mass index.  For $120.00, you can purchase the Omron Full Body Sensor.  This device measures from both the hands and feet and informs you of your weight, body fat to muscle ratio, daily caloric estimate , visceral fat, body mass index and your metabolic age.
The Tanita Ironman sells for about $300.00 and measures you from your hands and feet.  It gives you statistics on your weight, body fat, percent water, muscle, bone mass, visceral fat, physique rating, metabolic age and a daily calorie estimate.
If you like information about your body composition in addition to your weight, there are many new devices to choose from and they are surprisingly affordable.