Science & Innovation

Since 1946, Tanita has been an industry pioneer - with "first-to-the-market" introductions:

What Technology Goes Into Tanita's Body Composition? Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) is considered one of the most reliable and accessible methods of screening body fat. In conventional BIA, a person is weighed, then height, age, gender, and weight, or other physical characteristics such as body type, physical activity level, ethnicity, etc. are entered in a computer. While the person is lying down, electrodes are attached to various parts of the body and a small electric signal is applied. Simply explained, BIA measures the impedance or resistance to the signal as it travels through the water that is found in muscle and fat. The more muscle a person has, the more water their body can hold. The greater the amount of water in a person's body, the easier it is for the current to pass through it. The more fat, the more resistance to the current. BIA is safe and it does not hurt. In fact, the signal used in body fat monitors cannot be felt at all.

Tanita's Patented BIA Method
Tanita has patented a revolutionary new way of measuring BIA that is faster, easier, and less intrusive - making it a simple one-step process. In fact, Tanita was the first company to introduce the world to the body fat monitor/scale. Tanita's monitor looks just like a bathroom scale. Before stepping on the platform, a person simply inputs their age, gender, and height. Electrodes in the foot sensor pads send a low, safe signal through the body. Weight is calculated automatically along with body fat content (and up to 9 other readings as well) in seconds.

Tanita made it possible to determine not only Body Fat %, but also:

• Body Water %
• Muscle Mass
• Physique Rating
• Daily Caloric Intake (DCI)
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
• Metabolic Age
• Visceral Fat
• Bone Mass

PLUS, All Body Fat and Body Composition Monitors are FDA approved and feature Tanita's patented BIA method.

Transparent Electrodes

• What is it? All scales that incorporate bioelectric impedance technology require a conductive material on the face of the platform. Historically, this has taken the form of metallic plates attached to either an ABS plastic or glass surface. This material is required for conducting the low level electric pulse from the feet to the legs, abdomen, and back again. While effective, the metallic material can detract from the aesthetic appearance of a glass platform. As a result, Tanita pioneered a patented method of applying a conductive transparent film onto the surface of the glass.
• What's in it for you? Invisible to the naked eye, it serves the same function as a metallic electrode, with no compromise of accuracy or durability. This technology is currently available in Tanita's premier InnerScan and Ironman body composition analyzers.

Segmental Analysis

• What is it? Traditional bioelectric impedance analyzers send a single pulse of electrical current through the body, either from leg-to-leg, arm-to-arm, or arm-to-leg. These devices provide a full body assessment, and will calculate body fat, body water, muscle, mass, etc., for the entire body.
• What's in it for you? Tanita has introduced a revolutionary technology that combines the features of upper body and lower body monitors to provide a more thorough analysis. With the addition of hand held electrodes to the traditional foot electrodes, Tanita is now able to isolate the arms, from the legs, from the trunk to provide fat and fat-free mass calculations for each segment. This revolutionary technology allows health care provides, trainers, or end users the ability to differentiate fat from muscle in different parts of the body. This can be vital when recovering from an injury, identifying weight loss goals, and monitoring changes associated with athletic training or weight loss.

Wireless Technology

• What is it? Tanita has incorporated wireless technologies into consumer and professional products. As the intricacy of monitors expands, and with the demands of increased record keeping capability, there is need for wireless data transmission. Tanita has provided a solution with the incorporation of wireless (Bluetooth, ANT, and Wi-Fi) technology into a new line of products.
• What's in it for you? These products provide the power of full data output with the simplicity of no cables = less cumbersome. Data encryption assures secure data transmission.

50 Gram Accuracy

• What is it? Conventionally, scales used in homes, gyms, and medical settings have had an accuracy at best of 0.2 pounds (90.73 grams). While for many uses this is adequate, there are some applications where a finer resolution is needed. Tanita has provided a solution with the introduction of scales and analyzers with an accuracy of 0.1 pound (45.37 grams).
• What's in it for you? These units are so sensitive that the user must provide a gravity compensation adjustment based on their physical locations latitude. This increased accuracy goes beyond the obvious weight measurement. When performing bioelectric impedance analysis, the subjects weight is inserted into the algorithm that calculates body fat, hydration, muscle mass, etc. The increased accuracy of the weight measurement will result in more precise calculations in the BIA process. Perfect for individuals who are focused on the highest levels of conditioning or weight loss.

Legal-for-Trade

• What is it? Most scales and analyzers available today, whether used in a home or professional setting, do not meet the stringent requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 (Section 1.10 General Code G-A.1.).
• What's in it for you? Many States require a National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) class III certification for any device to be installed in a commercial application. Devices that achieve these requirements have been rigorously tested to verify they meet all the manufacturers specifications and have a tamper proof design to prevent corruption. Note that legal-for-trade scales generally cost more than similar products that do not offer this feature, due to the enhanced manufacturing and extensive testing required to achieve this standard. Tanita offers a series of scales and analyzers that achieve NTEP compliance.