Omron BF500 User Manual

42

Body fat is classified as subcutaneous fat and visceral fat etc., depending on where it is located 

in the body. In particular, visceral fat level is known to have a close connection to susceptibility 

common diseases.

Body fat percentage refers to the amount of body fat mass in regards to the total body 

weight expressed as a percentage.
The BF500 uses BI(Bioelectrical Impedance) to calculate your body fat percentage using 

the following simple formula.

Body fat percentage (%) = {Body fat mass (kg) / Body weight (kg)} × 100

The BF500 uses body fat percentage to measure your body fat percentage using the 

above simple formula.

When most people think of body fat, they have 

a negative image of it. However, it serves a vital 

role in storing energy, protecting internal 

organs, etc. While too much body fat is 

unhealthy for you, having too little is also 

unhealthy.
The distribution of body fat in men and women 

is different, so the basis of classifying the body 

fat percentage for male and female is different.

Based on NIH/WHO guidelines for BMI
Based on Gallagher et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72, Sept. 2000

< 21.0

21.0 - 32.9

33.0 - 38.9

39.0

< 23.0

23.0 - 33.9

34.0 - 39.9

40.0

< 24.0

24.0 - 35.9

36.0 - 41.9

42.0

<   8.0

  8.0 - 19.9

20.0 - 24.9

25.0

< 11.0

11.0 - 21.9

22.0 - 27.9

28.0

< 13.0

13.0 - 24.9

25.0 - 29.9

30.0

Let’s look at an example

BODY FAT PERCENTAGE
BODY FAT PERCENTAGE 

CLASSIFICATION

Example of display:
• Body Fat Percentage: 

29.3%

• Body Fat Percentage Classification: 0

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HBF500-E.book  Page 42  Friday, October 24, 2008  10:41 AM