Styku's method of predicting body composition values is based on your body's shape, making it unique.
All body composition methods are predictions, and have limitations
Every method, whether it’s caliper, Styku, BIA, DEXA or dunk tank will give a range of body fat % values, some higher, some lower, and there’s no “ground truth” when it comes to an accurate body fat %. Understanding this is a key to tracking the progress of a client, and the body’s change. A sample caliper value may be 13%, DEXA 18%, BIA at 25% and Styku at 23%. It’s truly that variable because of the difference in the methods used and the limitations of each of those methods.
For example, BIA body fat calculations are derived from the water content of the body. Change the hydration level, and the body fat % values will change as well. DEXA is quite precise as a body fat % system, but it does take 5 minutes to perform a DEXA scan and any movement during that time will skew the results. Operators at the dunk tank will take measurements 3 times and use the average, because the air in a person’s lungs when “dunked” has a big impact on the resulting body fat % calculation.
The Styku method of estimating body fat uses circumference measurements to derive the result. Proper form-fitting clothing is important, so that the scanner can "see" the shape of your body and measure it properly. This is similar to some off-the-shelf methods for determining body fat %, for example the YMCA, or US-Navy methods. However, these other methods are correlated to dunk tank data, and typically under-estimate body fat % values. For more information, please visit https://www.styku.com/bodycomposition.
Styku's body fat values are precise
Regardless of the body fat % result, whether it’s a bit higher or lower than another method, when the Styku scan is performed correctly, the results are quite precise, meaning you will see very little change in the value for several scans performed one right after the other. This is key because without good precision, it’s very difficult to track progress.
For example, calipers have a precision of about +- 5%. The subject’s trainer may have calculated the body fat % at 13%, but if we had the trainer calculate the body fat % several times, we would see that sometimes it’s 15%, sometimes it’s 12%, etc. In order to truly know that progress was made in lowering body fat %, with calipers we’d need to see a change greater than 5%.
With Styku, the change will be accurately recorded for 2% or more, so if the customer is interested in knowing whether they gained or lost fat, Styku will be able to deliver more quickly than calipers.