Tanita TBF-542 Body Fat Monitor and Scale

by Tanita

Product Features

• Operates on four AA batteries (included)
• Determines weight and estimates body fat with safe, low-level electrical pulse
• Works for moderately active adults (18 and over) and children (3-1/2-feet tall)
• Also works for extremely fit people with resting pulse rate of about 60
• Family model: stores personal data for four users

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

This device might look like a scale, but it presents a broader snapshot of personal health by not only determining weight, but estimating body fat as well. It does this by sending a safe, imperceptible, low-level electrical pulse (50 kHz) through the body. (Healthcare professionals use similar electrical-pulse devices to estimate body fat by what is known as Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, or BIA.) The device operates on four AA batteries (included), and its digital screen displays body-fat readings in 0.5 percent increments and weight in either 1/2-pound or 0.2 kg increments, up to 300 pounds or 136 kg.

The TBF-542 stores data (gender and height) for four users, and has three modes: adult (over 18, with low to moderate physical activity), child (under 17), and athlete (high physical activity, with a resting pulse rate of about 60). Toe-tap a button to call up your data, and then step on the device. Within seconds, it displays your weight, followed by an estimate of body-fat percentage. Both will repeat before the device turns off automatically. (There's also a weight-only button.) Durable and easy to maintain, the device measures 13 by 11-3/4 inches and carries a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 11.8 x 2 inches ; 6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 pounds
• ASIN: B00005EB7D
• UPC: 742496854209
• Item model number: TBF-542
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,502 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very easy to use scale and body fat monitor, June 5, 2001

By 

Douglas Welzel (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tanita TBF-542 Body Fat Monitor and Scale (Health and Beauty)

I've used the Tanita products for some time and have always found them exceptionally easy to use. The scale can be customized for different people, allowing you to specify the sex and height for each person. This profile can be accessed by tapping one of the large buttons on the front of the scale with you toe. The buttons press easily and I've never had a problem using them with my foot. Once you get your feet positioned on the scale you will see a readout of your weight and a few seconds after that you'll see a body fat measurement.

The main downside I've had with these products is these consistency of the results (bodyfat in particular, not weight). The bodyfat measurement can fluctuate widely over the course of a day so you must be very careful to take your measurement at the same time every day (the instructions suggest evening is best). Also, the measurements can be influenced by things such as activity and hydration level. If you're involved (or even thinking about becoming involved) with physical activity I'd recommend investing in a model with an "athlete" mode.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good value, November 28, 2001

By 

C. G. Petrilli (Arlington, VA (USA)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tanita TBF-542 Body Fat Monitor and Scale (Health and Beauty)

I've owned this scale for quite some time now, and have been very happy with it. As someone pointed out, the fat % can vary wildly. I am pretty sure that it's actually measuring water content (read that somewhere in the manual I think), and so if you don't have a stable body-water content, then the percentages will be wildly variable. Most people are dehydrated, I've found, so the numbers are wrong. Once I got back to drinking the amount of water I needed (prob 64oz/day), I've found the numbers to be not only stable, but also close to what a professional measurement will get you.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easy to use, December 27, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tanita TBF-542 Body Fat Monitor and Scale (Health and Beauty)

I recieved this as a christmas gift. It is very easy to use, and very accurate. I had visited a professional body fat tester and had the same numbers as the ones this scale gave. Which was a little depressing as far as my self image goes, but it made me trust the scale.