Tanita

In 1992, Tanita successfully introduced the world's first stand-on Body Composition Analyser following years of extensive research and development. The success of this new product led to the company's dramatic international expansion into the healthcare market.

Tanita's Body Composition Analysers utilise Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology. Our ongoing international research programme ensures that we remain at the forefront of the latest findings in the fields of obesity and body composition analysis, and these results are continually fed back into product development.

 

How BIA works: Understanding Tanita Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

Tanita uses BIA to make an indirect measurement of body composition. A safe electrical signal (50Khz, 800µA) is sent through the body via the patented pressure-contact electrodes, housed in a single stand-alone unit. The only direct measurements that Tanita BIA makes are weight and impedance; all other values such as body fat percentage, Fat Free Mass, Total Body Water, etc., are calculated using an equation based on these and other values such as height, age, gender and body type.

Impedance is measured in Ohms and can be defined as the strength and speed of an electrical signal travelling through the body. BIA is based on the fact that lean tissue, such as muscle and blood, contain high levels of water and electrolytes and therefore acts as a conductor of an electrical signal. Fat tissue is comparatively anhydrous and acts as a resistor to the flow of an electrical signal. Increasing levels of fat mass result in a higher impedance value and correspond to higher levels of body fat.

Today, Tanita BIA is recognised as a world leader in practical body composition analysis.