Omron HBF-306C Fat Loss Monitor

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Measurement of body fat composition is the key to long-term exercise success. The Omron hand held body fat analyzer is an affordable and easy way to measure body fat in the privacy of your own home. After inputting the data, a measurement can be started by simply holding the grip electrodes and pressing the START button. Omron's Weight Management products help you monitor progress in achieving a healthier, more active lifestyle. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve overall health, lose weight or get more energy in your daily life, physical activity is essential to staying healthy.

Amazon.com Product Description
The Omron HBF-306C Body Fat Analyzer measures your body fat with a gentle, micro electrical current -- don't worry, you won't feel it. The key to long-term exercise success is accurate body fat composition measurement. This handheld body fat analyzer is an affordable and easy way to measure your body fat in the privacy of your own home. After inputting the data, a measurement can be started by simply holding the grip electrodes and pressing the start button. And since the analyzer is built with a nine person profile memory, each member of your family or team can track the success of their individual exercise routines.

The Omron HBF-306C measures body fat with a micro electrical current. Detailed view.

The screen displays body fat measurements and other data. Detailed view.

Easy-to-use, handheld design.

The HBF-306C features two modes -- athlete and normal -- for accurate results. The device is a breeze to use, and it returns measurement results in seven seconds for both Bi method (Bioelectrical Impedance Method) and BMI (Body Mass Index). The unit displays the measured value of your body fat percentage through the BMI method, and indicates the body mass in for ranges from low, normal, high, and very high according to the BMI value.

What is the Bioelectrical Impedance Method?
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 500 A through your body to determine the amount of fat tissue. This weak electrical current is not felt while operating the Body Fat Analyzer. The Bioelectrical Impedance Method safely combines the electric resistance with the distance of the electricity conducted. Correct posture and consistent measuring conditions need to be maintained for the best results.

Operating the Analyzer
To use the HBF-306C you must first set your personal datYou must first select between the Normal and Athlete modes. To determine if you should select Normal or Athlete, you must calculate your FIT index by using the following formula:

FIT Index = Frequency x Intensity x Time

Frequency is a single digit number from one to five that represents your frequency of exercise. If you exercise daily or almost daily, then use the number five; three to four times per week use four; one to two times per week use three; a few times per month use two; and for less than once a month use one. If you workout vigorously, then you use the number five to represent your intensity level; if you workout with moderate or light effort, use the number four.

Meanwhile, time is a single digit number from four to one that represents the duration of your workout. If you exercise for 45 minutes or more, then use the number four; 30-44 minutes use three; 15-29 minutes use two; and for less than 15 minutes use one. For example, if you run five times a week for 30 minutes, your FIT index would be 75 (5 x 5 x 3 = 75) and you would select the Athlete setting. If your FIT index is greater than 60, you should select the Athlete setting. Any number below would demand a normal setting.

After determining your FIT index and selecting between the Athlete and Normal setting, the remaining personal data is very straightforward. Simply enter your height, weight, age and gender. When all the data is fixed and stored, the analyzer screen will display "Ready," and you'll be ready to take your first body fat measurements.

Note: For the following cases, the body fat percentage measured by this unit may significantly differ from the actual body fat percentage.

Children in a growth stage
Elderly people and post-menopausal women
People with a fever
People who have swelling
Patients with osteoporosis who have very low bone density
Bodybuilders or professional athletes
Patients undergoing dialysis

	HB-400	HB-500	HBF-306	HR-100
Compare Omron Fitness Monitors
Measurement	Body fat percentage Body mass index Weight	Body fat percentage Visceral fat level Skeletal muscle percentage Resting metabolism Body mass index Weight	Body fat percentage Body mass index	Heart rate and pulse
Product Placement	Flat level floor	Flat level floor	Hold in front of body	Watch on wrist Transmitter around chest
Memory	4 person profile with previous reading	4 person profile 1/7/30/90 day(s) memory	9 person profile	None
Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year
Batteries	4 "AA" (included)	4 "AA" (included)	2 "AA" (included)	2 CR2032 3 volt (included)
Estimated Battery Life	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (varies depending on storage and use)

Q&A - Fitness Monitors

What is the Bioelectrical Impedance Method?
Bioelectrical Impedance (BI) is considered one of the most accurate and accessible methods of screening body fat. 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 monitor sends an extremely weak electrical current through your body to determine the amount of fat tissue. Theweakelectrical current is not felt while operating the Body Fat Analyzer. The monitoris calculated by a formula thatincludes five factors; electric resistance,height,weight,ageandgender.
What is visceral fat?
Visceral fat is located around the organs. Too much visceral fat is thought to be closely linked to increased level of fat in the bloodstream, which can lead to common conditions such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sedentary life style causes excess visceral fat, and exercise can reduce it quicker than subcutaneous fat (fat located under skin).
What is resting metabolism?
Resting metabolism is the energy to maintain vital functions and it counts 60 to 70% of total energy consumption. Knowing your resting metabolism can help your dietplan. If you can increase daily activity while keeping food intake at resting metabolism level, you can lose weight.
What is skeletal muscle?
Skeletal muscle is muscle attached to the bones that is used to move the body. If you do weight loss without exercise, you may lose skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is important to maintain your resting metabolism as well as your functionality. Monitoring skeletal muscle during weight loss is key to avoid weight rebound in the future.

Customer Reviews: Read 99 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Great body fat analyzer August 5, 2006
56 out of 59 found this review helpful

This is a great hand held body fat analyzer. Very accurate, consistent readings and very user friendly. It takes about one minute to set up the personal information that it needs and takes a few seconds to get the body fat readings, very fast.

I was a little worried about buying this item because the lack of reviews but did notice another Omron HBF-306 fat Analyzer that had alot reviews. I don't know why this item doesn't have as many reviews as the other Omron HBF-306 fat Analyzer, when it is the exact same product, plus what made me buy this one instead of the other is it's cheaper and free shipping. So overall great product for the price.

1 out of 5 stars

Warning March 9, 2007
43 out of 59 found this review helpful

These types of body fat analyzers, tend to overestimate % body fat in lean people, underestimate in obese populations, and the equations it uses to calculate body fat are for specific populations. Do not confuse the consistency of the readings with accuracy. As well as the previously listed problems, these hand to hand body fat monitors only measure through the shortest path so the best case scenario is that you are getting a measure of your upper body's body fat extrapolated over your entire body. Foot to foot monitors share a similar problem. If you have the opportunity to see a professional at a gym, or fitness club, and have them assess your body fat with skinfolds that is a much better alternative than relying on these monitors. Also a health professional will be able to share more details on why these monitors are not worth the money you pay for them.

5 out of 5 stars

Great Overall Gauge At A Good Price January 9, 2007
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

I highly recommend the Omron fat loss monitor for anybody who is serious about monitoring their body fat.

Why I Recommend It:
1.EASY to use. It's almost dummy-proof
2.Inexpensive. For less than $26 you can have it delivered (Super-Saver shipping) including batteries.
3.I don't need help to use it. I don't know of any other method that you can do in the privacy of your home each and every day with the exception of calipers. And you need somebody else to use the calipers on you. Since they're only accurate if that person knows what he/she is doing and measures you in the exact same place each time, I think it's just easy to get a monitor.
4.Quick. I can take a measurement in about 10 seconds.

General Thoughts/Suggestions:
1.The instruction manual mentions this also but... Make sure to take the measurement at the same time each day. I take my measurements right before I leave the house for work before I've eaten or drank anything for the day.
2.Don't expect the results to be perfect. If the measurement tells you that you're 16% body fat, that's probably pretty close to what you actually are. But depending on how much water you've had to drink, how recently you've exercised, how recently you've eaten, etc., the reading could go up to 17% or down to 15%. It's best to be consistent with when you take your measurements and to use the monitor as a guide to tell you if you're gaining or losing. I think of it as a fat loss compass... not a fat loss GPS.
3.Make sure that you keep your stats updated in the computer memory. I'm on a fat loss routine right now. I've lost 15 lbs since I began using the Omron monitor. It only takes a second to update your personal stats in the monitor's memory. But you need to do it. Otherwise it'll give you an inaccurate reading.

All in all, I'd say this is a great investment. Yes, you can lose body fat without using a monitor. But it is also possible to lose weight without losing body fat (i.e. water weight or muscle). I'm constantly tweaking my diet and workout routine to keep that percentage dropping. Without the monitor I'd be in the dark and I'm confident that I wouldn't have seen the progress that I've seen thus far.

Good luck & good health!

5 out of 5 stars

Great Product! November 9, 2006
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

Unbeatable for the price! Worked fine right out of the box. Easy to use and easy to understand instructions. I'm glad I bought it.

4 out of 5 stars

The Omrom HBF-306C: A True Story of Fat Loss Monitoring January 21, 2008
19 out of 25 found this review helpful

Once upon a time...I bought this thing to mess around with because I don't like having to ask the people at the gym if I can borrow theirs. And mostly I was curious how the thing worked (What happens if you say you're 35 instead of 31? What if you say you're 5'11" instead of 5'10 1/4"? What if you don't weigh yourself on the day that you test your body fat? What if you drink a glass of water right before you measure things?).

Turns out these variables matter a lot. A glass of water can add an additional 1 percentage point of body fat to your reading. Age adds body fat. Weight adds body fat. I forgot what height adds.

This thing works well, it's easy to use, and I enjoy seeing how much "fatter" you can get by chugging a lot of water right after you test yourself for a first time to establish a baseline. You can have contests with your friends to see who can become "fatter." I was undefeated in 2007 and won $625 competing throughout the year. No one else in my league won more money.

The only thing I don't like is that there's an "Athlete" setting and a "Normal" setting, and you have to figure out which one you are before you can measure yourself. They give you a formula to figure out which one you are, but I'm always on the cusp of both, and my workouts are always changing anyway. If you choose "Athlete," you're graded as fatter. If you choose "Normal," the computer thinks your thinner. The difference is about 1 percentage point.

You can also measure the body fat of other living creatures by hugging them while you measure your own body fat. You have to measure yourself separately too so that you can subtract yourself from the equation at the end. My dog, for example, is 7% body fat. I've got her on a treadmill right now. She wants to check in at 4% by bikini season.

YOU CANNOT MEASURE THE FAT CONTENT OF A PIZZA, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU IMPALE THE PIZZA WITH THE FAT MONITOR'S HANDLES! Pizzas are made of meat and fat and dough, but the Omron is designed to send and capture electrical impulses through meat, fat, and bone. It doesn't know what to make of the dough. You won't get a reliable reading.

I totally recommend this thing if you likes gadgets. I have a breathalyzer too. I recommend that. I also recommend that new movie "There Will Be Blood." Daniel Day-Lewis is in it. He plays an oil guy back in the early 1900s. I only saw the first 30 minutes of it because I had bought a ticket to another movie and I was waiting for it to start, but it was really good, the part I saw. I also recommend that you visit the dentist at least twice a year, and that you start flossing at least two weeks before your appointment so that they can't tell that you haven't been flossing all along. If you only start flossing a day or two before, your gums will be swollen, and they'll know that you haven't been doing it.

THE END

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