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Safety precautions
Important notes for users
Principles of body fat percentage measurement
What is body fat percentage?
Reasonable ranges of body fat percentage
Body fat percentage measurement
Body fat percentage fluctuations in a day
Advantages of the Tanita Body Fat Monitor/Scale TBF-612
Features and functions of TBF-612
Components
Measuring platform
Accessories
Useful features of the TBF-612
Selecting the Weight Mode (lb, kg or st-lb)
Preparations before use
Inserting the batteries
Positioning the monitor
Attaching the support feet
Handling tips
How to measure body fat percentage
Overview of measuring
Setting and storing data in memory
Taking measurements
Multiple users
Replacing the batteries
Troubleshooting
Specifications
Warranty form
Table of contents
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The Tanita Body Fat Monitor/Scale TBF-612 allows you to estimate your body fat
percentage at home as easily as you measure your weight.
What is body fat percentage?
Body fat percentage is the percentage of fat in your body. Until now, your absolute
weight has determined whether or not you were considered overweight or obese. In
recent years, the definition of obesity has been refined to mean the presence of excess
body fat. Too much body fat has been linked to conditions such as high blood pressure,
heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other disabling conditions.
The BIA method
The TBF-612 uses the BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) technique. In this method,
a safe low-level electrical signal is passed through the body. It is difficult for the signal to
flow through fat in the human body, but easy to flow through moisture in the muscle
and other body tissues. The difficulty with which a signal flows through a substance is
called impedance. So the amount of fat in the body can be accurately estimated by mea-
suring the impedance. The signal used is very low, making it safe and imperceptible.
The illustration on the left show how the signal travels through the body.
Body fat percentage fluctuations in a day
Hydration levels in the body may affect body fat readings. Readings are usually highest
in the early waking hours, since the body tends to be dehydrated after a long night’s
sleep. For the most accurate reading, a person should take a body fat percentage reading
at a consistent time of day under consistent conditions.
Besides this basic cycle of fluctuations in the daily body fat readings, variations may be
caused by hydration changes in the body due to eating, drinking, menstruation, illness,
exercising, and bathing. Daily body fat readings are unique to each person, and depend
upon one’s lifestyle, job and activities.
The graph on the left shows an example of daily body fat percentage fluctuations.
Advantages of the Tanita TBF-612
Previously, body fat percentage was determined by measuring the thickness of subcuta-
neous fat by pinching it with calipers, or by laying a person on a scanning bed and pass-
ing a current from hand to foot. However, these methods had problems; measurement
values varied, professional skills were required, and extensive time was required for mea-
surement. Currently, the standard methods of fat percentage measurement are DEXA
(dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and Hydrodensitometry (underwater weighing).
Based on data from both the DEXA and underwater weighing methods, Tanita established
a formula for estimating the percentage of body fat. There is a high correlation between
measurements taken with the TBF-612 and those obtained through DEXA and underwa-
ter weighing.
Principles of body fat percentage measurement
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particu-
lar installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or television technician for help.
Modifications
The FCC requires the user to be notified that any changes or modifications made to this device that are not expressly approved by Tanita Corporation may void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
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Tanita TBF-612 BODY FAT MONITOR/SCALE
20–39
40–59
60–79
Healthy Overfat ObeseUnderfat
Healthy Overfat ObeseUnderfat
Based on NIH/WHO BMI Guidelines.
As reported by Gallagher, et al., at NY Obesity Research Center.
To determine the percentage of body fat that is appropriate for your body, consult your physician.
10%0% 20% 30% 40%
20–39
40–59
60–79
Female
Body Fat Ranges for Standard Adults
Age
Male
Age
1, 2
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Tanita’s patented “foot-pad” design sends a safe,
low-level electrical signal through the body to deter-
mine its composition.
6 am
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10 am 2 pm 6 pm 10 pm Time
Body Fat %
Daily fluctuations in body fat percentage based on
the BIA method