Body Water; Muscle Percentage; Results In Relation To Time; Troubleshooting - Beurer BF 408 Mode D'emploi

Body water

According to the World Health Organization (WHO 2001), the percentage of body water should normally lie
within the following ranges:
Women: 50 – 55 %
Men: 60 – 65 %
Children: 65 –75 %
Body fat contains relatively little water. Therefore people with a high body fat percentage have body water per-
centages below the recommended values. With endurance athletes, however, the recommended values could
be exceeded due to low fat percentages and high muscle percentage.
This scale is unsuitable for measuring body water in order to draw medical conclusions concerning age-related
water retention, for example. If necessary ask your physician. Basically, a high body water percentage should
be the aim.

Muscle percentage

As the percentage of muscle differs from individual to individual, there are no generally valid guidelines.

9. Results in relation to time

Note:
Remember that only long-term trends are important. Short-term fluctuations in weight over a few days are usu-
ally the result of fluid change, due to fluid intake or loss.
The interpretation of the results will depend on changes in your overall weight and body fat, body water and
muscle percentages, as well as the period during which these changes take place. Sudden changes within days
must be distinguished from medium term changes (over weeks) and long term changes (months).
A basic rule is that short term changes in weight almost exclusively represent changes in water content, whereas
medium and long term changes may also involve the fat and muscle percentages.
• If your weight reduces over the short term, but your body fat percentage increases or remains the same, you
have merely lost water – e.g. after a training session, sauna session or a diet restricted only to rapid weight loss.
• If your weight increases over the medium term and the body fat percentage falls or stays the same, then you
could have built up valuable muscle mass.
• If your weight and body fat percentage fall simultaneously, then your diet is working – you are losing fat mass.
• Ideally you should support your diet with physical activity, fitness or power training. This way you can increase
your muscle percentage over the medium term.
• Body fat, body water or muscle percentages should not be added (certain elements of muscle tissue also
contain body water).

10. Troubleshooting

Following error messages can appear.
Error display Possible causes of errors
"FFFF" The maximum capacity of 400 lb (181 kg; 28 st)
has been exceeded.
"Err" The electrical resistance between the conduc-
tors and the soles of the feet is too high (e.g.
in the case of thick calluses or too dry soles).
"Err" The fat percentage is outside the measurable
range (less than 5 % or greater than 65 %).
"Err" The water percentage is outside the
measurable range (less than 25 % or greater
than 75 %).
"Err" The muscle percentage is outside the measur-
able range (age and gender related).

Correction of errors

Weigh only the maximum permissible
weight.
Repeat the measurement barefoot.
If necessary, remove the calluses from the
soles of your feet.
Repeat the measurement barefoot.
If necessary, remove the calluses from the
soles of your feet.
Repeat the measurement barefoot.
If necessary, remove the calluses from the
soles of your feet.
Repeat the measurement barefoot.
If necessary, remove the calluses from the
soles of your feet.
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