What do Tanita measurements mean?

It is time to learn what are you made of…

Free software application Online-diagnostics

How can Tanita measurements can be interpreted, what do they mean?

Example blog post alt

Fat Level Percentage and Body Mass

Percentage of body fat means the proportion of fat in the entire body weight.
Fat mass is the actual fat weight in your body.
Fat is the most efficient energy source. Fat is needed for numerous processes in the body. Fat is a protector and a regulator. However, a high fat percentage represents a threat to your health. However, a low fat percentage may also become a sign of a disease – for instance, dystrophy or anorexia.

Visceral Fat

Visceral fat is the fat enveloping inner organs and protecting them from external influence.
An excessive visceral fat percentage provokes cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Muscle Mass, kg

Summarized data on muscle tissues, including smooth muscles of bones and inner organs together with the liquid they contain.
This measurement is important not only for athletes. Increase of muscle mass stimulates natural process of excessive fat tissue elimination.

Water Percentage, %

Water level influences physiological processes in the entire body, absorption of microelements, and many other factors. Low water level generates health problems, disturbs general feeling of well-being.

Bone mass, kg

The parameter which is obtained by a statistical method, shows approximate data depending on gender, age, and physiological body particularities. This index shows bone mass only, not bone density or bone condition.
It is important to follow up the bone mass index, to support bones by special exercises and balanced food, rich in calcium.

Physic rating

Taking into consideration measurements of muscle and bone mass, Tanita will define your body type among 9 body constitution types: hidden obese, obese, solidly built, under exercised, standard, standard muscular, thin, thin and muscular, very muscular. As long as you will change your physical activity, fat and muscle balance in the body will also change gradually, thus influencing your general physique. The physique rating ensured by Tanita will provide you a clue to your actual body physique.
Physic rating Description
1. Hidden Obese Small skeletal system, corpulence.
Though it may seem that the person has healthy physique, however, in the reality the fat level is quite high, but the muscle mass is too low.
2. Obese Average skeletal system, corpulence.
High fat level, average muscle mass.
3. Solidly Built Massive skeletal system, corpulence.
Average fat level and large muscle mass.
4. Under Exercised Low muscle mass and average fat percentage.
5. Standard Average muscle mass and average fat percentage.
Average muscle mass index and average fat level.
6. Standard Muscular Massive muscle mass and average fat percentage / Athlete.
High muscle mass index and average fat level.
7. Thin Small muscle mass and low fat percentage.
Low fat level and muscle mass rates.
8. Thin and Muscular Low fat level, but sufficient muscle mass index.
9. Very Muscular Very muscular / Athlete
Low fat level, and muscle mass index higher than average.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

BMR index means number of calories required to keep your body function (including sleeping).
As muscle mass of the body increases, BMR also increases. A person with a high BMR rate burns more calories when rested than a person with a low BMR.
Thus, muscle mass increase leads to BMR increase in order to lower fat level.

BMR changes may be used as a reference line for your diet. Additional calories may be included in case you increase your activity level.
BMR increases as long as the child grows up and reaches its peak at the age of 16-17, usually starting to reduce further.

Low BMR slows down fat elimination and total weight reducing process, that is why it becomes harder to lose weight with aging.

Metabolic Age

Metabolic age is the result of comparing your BMR to average BMR of your age group.
This is exactly your metabolic age which is even more important for your body wellness than biological age. Metabolic age influences hormone balance, tonicity of muscles and skin.

If your metabolic age is superior to your actual age, it means you must improve your metabolic level.
The body needs exercises in order to improve muscle tissue, which, in its turn, will improve your metabolic age score.

Segmental Muscle Mass

Muscle mass evaluation for five body parts: abdomen, arms and legs.
Individual measurements of monitoring segmental muscle mass for every arm, leg, and central abdomen will help you to see and to understand the influence of your physical exercises to the growth of your muscle mass.
You can also use this data to prevent muscle disbalance and risk of trauma.

Segmental Fat Measurements

Fat percentage for five body parts: central abdomen, arms and legs.
Individual measurements of segmental fat percentage for every arm, leg, and central abdomen will help you to see and to understand how your workout program does influence your body.

Body Mass Index

This is the index used to evaluate the general health condition.
BMI allows evaluating the level of correspondence of person’s weight and height. This helps to determine indirectly if the body mass is insufficient, normal, or excessive (obesity).
BMI is an obvious average index for the overall body estimation, however, may have serious errors at individual evaluation.

Muscles Quality

The measurement references quality / condition of muscles, which may be influenced by such factors as age or physique rating.
Normally, quality of muscles of young people or those having a regular workout, is good. Condition of muscles is generally deteriorating for seniors or persons who are not physically active.
Body composition monitors with Dual Body Composition function use 2 different frequencies for bioelectrical impedance measurement. The results obtained allow to assess muscle quality.
Muscle quality assessment is obtained by comparing person’s height and muscle mass. The higher is the score, the better muscle quality is.

If you can measure it, you can manage it

Body Composition Online Diagnostics

For your convenience, we have created a special online diagnostics tool which is available on our website. This is a mini application which allows you to evaluate measurement data: which readings are normal, but which ones may unveil health problems.

After registration or log-on you can save your data in your personal journal.
By saving your data you obtain an illustrative picture of your body composition with diagrams and scale of deviations.
Regular weighting and analysis of the data will help you to adapt duly your diet and workout program according to your needs, thus obtaining your targets sooner.


You have questions or need more detailed information? Please call!