Features:

• Analyzer measures your body fat with a gentle, micro electrical current
• Two modes -- athletic and normal -- provide accurate results based on your exercise regiment
• Delivers measurement results for Bi method (Bioelectrical Impedance Method) and BMI (Body Mass Index)
• Delivers results in approximately seven seconds
• Features a nine person memory profile for the whole family

Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Omron Body Logic Body Fat Analyzer HBF-306C The Omron hand held body fat analyzer is an affordable and easy way to measure body fat in the privacy of your own home. Measurement of body fat composition is the key tolong-term exercise success. After inputting the data, a measurement can be started by simply holding the grip electrodes and pressing the START button. Omron's Body Fat Analyzer measures your body fat weight and percentage in seconds, with clinically proven accuracy. 1 year warranty Product Specifications Display: Body fat percentage (4.0% to 50%), Body mass index (7.0 to 90.0) Personal Data: Height (3'4" to 6'6"),Weight(23lb. to 440lb.),Age (10 to 80 years),Athletic (18 to 60 years), Gender (male/Female) Power Source: 2 "AAA" batteries(R03) Battery Life Approx.:1 year (used 2 times/day) Dimensions: 8"(L) x 2"(W) x 5"(H) Weight: Approx. 8oz. (without batteries) Accessories: 2 "AAA" batteries, instruction manual

Amazon.com Product Description:
The Omron HBF-306C Body Fat Analyzer measures your body fat with a gentle, micro electrical current -- don't worry, you won't feel it. The key to long-term exercise success is accurate body fat composition measurement. This handheld body fat analyzer is an affordable and easy way to measure your body fat in the privacy of your own home. After inputting the data, a measurement can be started by simply holding the grip electrodes and pressing the start button. And since the analyzer is built with a nine person profile memory, each member of your family or team can track the success of their individual exercise routines.

The Omron HBF-306C measures body fat with a micro electrical current. Detailed view.

The screen displays body fat measurements and other data. Detailed view.

Easy-to-use, handheld design.

What is the Bioelectrical Impedance Method?
Muscles, blood vessels and bones are body tissues having a high water content that conduct electricity easily. Body fat is tissue that has little electric conductivity. The Body Fat Analyzer sends an extremely weak electrical current of 50 kHz and 500 µA through your body to determine the amount of fat tissue. This weak electrical current is not felt while operating the Body Fat Analyzer. The Bioelectrical Impedance Method safely combines the electric resistance with the distance of the electricity conducted. Correct posture and consistent measuring conditions need to be maintained for the best results.

Operating the Analyzer
To use the HBF-306C you must first set your personal datYou must first select between the Normal and Athlete modes. To determine if you should select Normal or Athlete, you must calculate your FIT index by using the following formula:

• FIT Index = Frequency x Intensity x Time

Meanwhile, time is a single digit number from four to one that represents the duration of your workout. If you exercise for 45 minutes or more, then use the number four; 30-44 minutes use three; 15-29 minutes use two; and for less than 15 minutes use one. For example, if you run five times a week for 30 minutes, your FIT index would be 75 (5 x 5 x 3 = 75) and you would select the Athlete setting. If your FIT index is greater than 60, you should select the Athlete setting. Any number below would demand a normal setting.

After determining your FIT index and selecting between the Athlete and Normal setting, the remaining personal data is very straightforward. Simply enter your height, weight, age and gender. When all the data is fixed and stored, the analyzer screen will display "Ready," and you'll be ready to take your first body fat measurements.

Note: For the following cases, the body fat percentage measured by this unit may significantly differ from the actual body fat percentage.

• Children in a growth stage
• Elderly people and post-menopausal women
• People with a fever
• People who have swelling
• Patients with osteoporosis who have very low bone density
• Bodybuilders or professional athletes
• Patients undergoing dialysis

Compare Omron Fitness Monitors
	HB-400	HB-500	HBF-306	HR-100
Measurement	Body fat percentage Body mass index Weight	Body fat percentage Visceral fat level Skeletal muscle percentage Resting metabolism Body mass index Weight	Body fat percentage Body mass index	Heart rate and pulse
Product Placement	Flat level floor	Flat level floor	Hold in front of body	Watch on wrist Transmitter around chest
Memory	4 person profile with previous reading	4 person profile 1/7/30/90 day(s) memory	9 person profile	None
Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year
Batteries	4 "AA" (included)	4 "AA" (included)	2 "AA" (included)	2 CR2032 3 volt (included)
Estimated Battery Life	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (when used four times a day)	Approx. 1 year (varies depending on storage and use)

What is the Bioelectrical Impedance Method?
Bioelectrical Impedance (BI) is considered one of the most accurate and accessible methods of screening body fat. Muscles, blood vessels and bones are body tissues having a high water content that conduct electricity easily. Body fat is tissue that has little electric conductivity. The monitor sends an extremely weak electrical current through your body to determine the amount of fat tissue. The weak electrical current is not felt while operating the Body Fat Analyzer. The monitor is calculated by a formula that includes five factors; electric resistance, height, weight, age and gender.
What is visceral fat?
Visceral fat is located around the organs. Too much visceral fat is thought to be closely linked to increased level of fat in the bloodstream, which can lead to common conditions such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sedentary life style causes excess visceral fat, and exercise can reduce it quicker than subcutaneous fat (fat located under skin).
What is resting metabolism?
Resting metabolism is the energy to maintain vital functions and it counts 60 to 70% of total energy consumption. Knowing your resting metabolism can help your dietplan. If you can increase daily activity while keeping food intake at resting metabolism level, you can lose weight.
What is skeletal muscle?
Skeletal muscle is muscle attached to the bones that is used to move the body. If you do weight loss without exercise, you may lose skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is important to maintain your resting metabolism as well as your functionality. Monitoring skeletal muscle during weight loss is key to avoid weight rebound in the future.

Rating : - Hard to decide how accurate this is?
I guess, for this kind of products, it is reasonable to expect not too much accuracy. Cause if you think about the type of measurement this device uses, you will notice that variations in your body within the day will make this thing fluctuate, though I don't know, by how much.

I bought this just to have an easy to use reference device. The results, well, if I take a few readings, I can guess, what is the most accurate this device reads (within 1% of its own accuracy). However, still, what I get is 6-7% lower than what another supposedly more accurate device gives. But, on the basis, they use similar electric-current based measurements (this from the hands, the other from the shoulder). And, knowing my body, I expect something in between.

In short, if you are a person trying to lose fat, and your goal is to reduce your body fat percentage by around 5 or more percent, this may do its job well. At least, that is the main reason I bought this device. I cannot expect it to be accurate for a 1% change, but for 5% or so, it should show me acceptable results.

After reading some negative reviews here, I would at least suggest you to give the device a chance before making the final decision on it. I will take various readings within the day using this one, and the other more accurate one, to see its actual performance, so that I can make the necessary adjustments myself to the results that the device gives me. I may update with the results I get from that one, if I have the chance later on.