Beurer BF 18: ENGLISH
ENGLISH: Beurer BF 18
ENGLISH
Contents
1. Device description .......................................8
5.2 Setting user data ................................10
2. Notes ............................................................8
5.3 Taking measurements ..........................10
3. Information on the diagnostic scale ..............9
6. Evaluation of results ....................................11
4. Batteries ......................................................10
7. Incorrect measurement ...............................13
5. Operation .....................................................10
8. Disposal .....................................................13
5.1 Measuring weight only .........................10
Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing one of our products. Our name stands for high-quality, thoroughly tested products
for the applications in the areas of heat, weight, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, gentle therapy,
massage and air.
Please read these instructions for use carefully and keep them for later use, be sure to make them acces-
sible to other users and observe the information they contain.
Best regards,
Your Beurer Team
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1. Display
2. „User“ key
3. „SET“ key
4. „Up“ key
5. „Down“ key
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6. Electrodes
2. Notes
Safety notes
Otherwise their function could be impaired.
• Do not use during pregnancy. Inaccurate measurements may be caused by the amniotic fluid.
• Caution! Do not stand on the scale with wet feet and do not step on the scale when its sur-
face is wet –
danger of slipping!
• Batteries are highly dangerous if swallowed. Keep batteries and scale out of reach of small children. If
batteries are swallowed, get medical help immediately.
• Keep children away from packing materials (danger of suffocation).
• Batteries must not be charged or reactivated by other means, taken apart, thrown into a fire or short-
circuited.
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General notes
• The unit is for personal use only and is not intended for medical or commercial applications.
• Please note that technically related measuring tolerances are possible, as the scale is not calibrated for
professional medical applications.
• Ages 10 ... 100 years and height settings from 100 ... 220 cm (3-03”–7-03”) can be preset. Load capa-
city: max. 150 kg (330 lb, 24 st). Result in steps of 100g (0.2 lb, 1/4 st). Measurements of body fat, body
water and muscle density in steps of 0.1%.
• On delivery the scale is set to the units “cm” and “kg”. A switch located on the back of the scale enables
you to change to “inch”, “pound” and “stones” (lb, St).
• Place the scale on a firm level floor; a firm floor covering is required for correct measurement.
• The scale should be cleaned occasionally with a damp cloth. Do not use abrasive detergents and never
immerse the scale in water.
• Protect the scale against hard knocks, moisture, dust, chemicals, major temperature fluctuations and
heat sources which are too close (stove, heating radiators).
• Repairs may only be carried out by Beurer customer service or authorized dealers. Before submitting
any complaint, first check the batteries and replace them if necessary.
3. Information on the diagnostic scale
The measuring principle of the diagnostic scale
This scale operates according to the B.I.A. principle (bioelectric impedance analysis). This enables physi-
cal relationships to be measured within seconds by means of an undetectable, completely harmless
electric current. The body fat percentage and other physical relationships in the body can be determined
by measuring the electrical resistance (impedance), and the inclusion in a calculation of constants and in-
dividual parameters (age, height, gender, degree of activity).
Muscle tissue and water have good electrical conductivity, and therefore lower resistance.
Bones and fatty tissue, on the other hand, have low conductivity, as fat cells and bones conduct hardly
any current as a result of their very high resistance.
Please be aware that values obtained from the diagnostic scale represent only an approximation of actual
analytical medical data. Only a specialist physician can accurately determine body fat, body water, muscle
percentage and bone structure using medical procedures (e.g. computed tomography).
General tips
– If possible, always weigh yourself at the same time of day (preferably in the morning), after using the toi-
let, on an empty stomach and unclothed, in order to achieve comparable results.
– Important for the measurement: body fat can only be measured when barefoot and with the soles of the
feet slightly moist. Completely dry soles can result in unsatisfactory measurements due to inadequate
conductivity.
– Stand still during the measurement.
– Wait a few hours after unaccustomed strenuous activity.
– Wait approx. 15 minutes after getting up in the morning to allow the water in the body to distribute.
Limitations
When measuring body fat and other values, deviating and implausible results may occur in:
– children under approx. 10 years,
– competitive athletes and body builders,
– pregnant women,
– persons with fever, undergoing dialysis treatment or with symptoms of edema or osteoporosis,
– persons taking cardiovascular medication,
– persons taking vascular dilating or vascular constricting medication,
– persons with considerable anatomic deviations of the legs in relation to total body size (length of the legs
considerably shortened or lengthened).
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4. Batteries
If provided, pull out the battery insulating strip at the battery compartment or remove the protective film
from the battery and insert the battery with the correct polarity. If the scale fails to operate, remove the
battery completely and reinsert it.
Your scale is provided with a “Change battery” indicator. If the scale is operating with a battery which is
too weak, “Lo” appears on the display and the scale will switch off automatically. In this case, the battery
must be exchanged (1 x 3 V lithium battery CR2032).
5. Operation
5.1 Measuring weight only
Step onto the scale. Stand still with your weight distributed equally on both feet. The scale begins to take
measurements straight away. If the display appears continuously, the measurement has finished.
If you step off the weighing area, the scale switches off after a few seconds.
5.2 Setting user data
To measure your body fat percentage and other physical data, you must enter your personal user para-
meters.
The scale has 10 memory positions in which you and other members of your family can save and recall
personal settings.
Switch on the scale (tap the standing surface). Wait until the display shows “0.0”.
Then press “SET”. The first memory position will appear flashing on the display. Now you can enter the fol-
lowing settings:
Memory position 1 to 10
Body size 100 to 220 cm (3‘-03“ to 7‘-03“)
Age 10 to100 years
Sex
male (
), female ( )
Degree of activity 1 to 5
You can enter the relevant settings with short or long pressure on the up button
or down button .
Confirm the settings in each case by pressing “SET”.
The values you’ve just set are displayed again consecutively. The scale then automatically switches off.
Selection of the degree of activity must refer to the medium and long term.
– Degree of activity 1: No physical activity.
– Degree of activity 2: Low physical activity.
A small amount of light physical effort (e.g. short walks, light garden work, gymnastic exercises).
– Degree of activity 3: Medium physical activity.
Physical effort for 30 minutes at least 2 to 4 times a week.
– Degree of activity 4: High physical activity.
Physical effort for 30 minutes at least 4 to 6 times a week.
– Degree of activity 5: Very high physical activity.
Intensive physical effort, intensive training or hard physical work for at least one hour daily.
5.3 Taking measurements
After all parameters have been entered, you can now measure your weight, body fat and the other data.
– Switch on the scale (tap the standing surface). Wait until the display shows “0.0”.
– Press the “USER” button and select the memory space where you would like to save your basic perso-
nal data by pressing the “up”
or “down” button the appropriate number of times. These are displa-
yed in sequence until “0.0” and the selected gender appear.
– Step onto the scale barefoot and make sure you’re standing on both electrodes. First your body weight
is determined and displayed.
– Remain standing on the scale; now the body fat and body water analysis is performed. This can take a
few seconds.
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Important: There may be no contact between feet, legs, calves and thighs. Otherwise the measurement
will not be performed correctly.
The following data are automatically displayed consecutively:
1. Weight
2. Body fat in %
3. Body water in %
4. Muscle content
5. Bone mass
Now all measured values are displayed consecutively and the scale switches off.
Body fat percentage
The following body fat percentages are for guidance (contact your physician for further information).
Man Woman
Age very good good average poor
Age very good good average poor
10-14 <11% 11-16% 16,1-21% >21,1%
10-14 <16% 16-21% 21,1-26% >26,1%
15-19 <12% 12-17% 17,1-22% >22,1%
15-19 <17% 17-22% 22,1-27% >27,1%
20-29 <13% 13-18% 18,1-23% >23,1%
20-29 <18% 18-23% 23,1-28% >28,1%
30-39 <14% 14-19% 19,1-24% >24,1%
30-39 <19% 19-24% 24,1-29% >29,1%
40-49 <15% 15-20% 20,1-25% >25,1%
40-49 <20% 20-25% 25,1-30% >30,1%
50-59 <16% 16-21% 21,1-26% >26,1%
50-59 <21% 21-26% 26,1-31% >31,1%
60-69 <17% 17-22% 22,1-27% >27,1%
60-69 <22% 22-27% 27,1-32% >32,1%
70-100 <18% 18-23% 23,1-28% >28,1%
70-100 <23% 23-28% 28,1-33% >33,1%
A lower value is often found in athletes. Depending on the type of sports, training intensity and physical
constitution, values may result which are below the recommended values stated.
It should, however, be noted that there could be a danger to health in the case of extremely low values.
Body water
The body water percentage is normally within the following ranges:
Man Woman
Age poor good very good
Age poor good very good
10-100 <50% 50-65% >65%
10-100 <45& 45-60% >60%
Body fat contains relatively little water. Therefore persons with a high body fat percentage have body wa-
ter percentages below the recommended values. With endurance athletes, however, the recommended
values could be exceeded due to low fat percentages and high muscle percentage.
Body water measurement with this scale is not suitable for drawing medical conclusions, for example con-
cerning age-related water retention. If necessary ask your physician.
Basically, a high body water percentage should be the aim.
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Muscle percentage
The muscle percentage is normally within the following ranges:
Man Woman
Age low normal high
Age low normal high
10 -14 <44% 4 4 - 5 7 % > 5 7 %
10-14 <36% 3 6 - 4 3 % > 4 3 %
15 -19 <43% 4 3 - 5 6 % > 5 6 %
15-19 <35% 3 5 - 4 1 % > 4 1 %
20 - 29 <42% 4 2 - 5 4 % > 5 4 %
20-29 <34% 3 4 - 3 9 % > 3 9 %
30 - 39 <41% 4 1 - 5 2 % > 5 2 %
30-39 <33% 3 3 - 3 8 % > 3 8 %
4 0 - 4 9 <40% 4 0 - 5 0 % > 5 0 %
40-49 <31% 31- 36 % > 3 6 %
50 - 59 <39% 3 9 - 4 8 % > 4 8 %
50-59 <29% 2 9 - 3 4 % > 3 4 %
6 0 - 6 9 <38% 3 8 - 4 7 % > 4 7 %
60-69 <28% 2 8 - 3 3 % > 3 3 %
70 -100 <37% 3 7 - 4 6 % > 4 6 %
70-100 <27% 27- 32 % > 3 2 %
Bone mass
Like the rest of our body, our bones are subject to the natural development, degeneration and ageing
processes. Bone mass increases rapidly in childhood and reaches its maximum between 30 and 40 ye-
ars of age. Bone mass reduces slightly with increasing age. You can reduce this degeneration somewhat
with healthy nutrition (particularly calcium and vitamin D) and regular exercise. With appropriate muscle
building, you can also strengthen your bone structure.
Note that this scale will not show you the calcium content of your bones, but will measure the weight of all
bone constituents (organic substances, inorganic substances and water).
Attention: Please do not confuse bone mass with bone density. Bone density can be determined only by
means of a medical examination (e.g. computer tomography, ultrasound). It is therefore not possible to
draw conclusions concerning changes to the bones and bone hardness (e.g. osteoporosis) using this scale.
Little influence can be exerted on bone mass, but it will vary slightly within the influencing factors (weight,
height, age, gender).
Results in relation to time
Note that it is only the long-term trend which counts. Short period fluctuations in weight over a few days
are mostly the result of a loss of fluid.
The interpretation of the results will depend on changes in your: overall weight and body fat, body water
and muscle percentages, as well as on the period during which these changes take place. Rapid changes
within days must be distinguished from medium term changes (over weeks) and long term changes
(months).
A basic rule is that short term changes in weight almost exclusively represent changes in water content,
whereas medium and long term changes may also involve the fat and muscle percentages.
• If your weight reduces over the short term, but your body fat percentage increases or remains the same,
you have merely lost water – e.g. after a training session, sauna session or a diet restricted only to rapid
weight loss.
• If your weight increases over the medium term and the body fat percentage falls or stays the same, then
you could have built up valuable muscle mass.
If your weight and body fat percentage fall simultaneously then your diet is working – you are losing fat
mass. Ideally you should support your diet with physical activity, fitness or power training. By this means,
you can increase your muscle percentage over the medium term.
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7. Incorrect measurement
If the scale detects an error during weighing, „BF ” or “ ” appears in the display.
If you step onto the scale before “0.0” appears in the display, the scale will not operate properly.
Possible causes of error:
Remedy:
– The maximum load-bearing capacity of 150 kg
– Only weigh the maximum permissible weight.
(330 lbs) was exceeded.
– The electrical resistance between the electrodes
– Repeat weighing barefoot. Slightly moisten the
and the soles of your feed is too high (e.g. with
soles of your feet if necessary. Remove the cal-
heavily callused skin).
luses on the soles of your feet if necessary.
– Your body fat lies outside the measurable range
– Repeat weighing barefoot.
(less than 5 % or greater than 80 %).
– Slightly moisten the soles of your feet if neces-
sary.
– Your percentage of water lies outside the measu-
– Repeat weighing barefoot.
rable range (less than 43 % or greater than
– Slightly moisten the soles of your feet if necessary.
75 %)
8. Disposal
Used, fully discharged batteries must be disposed of in a specially labeled collection contai-
ner, at toxic waste collection points or through an electrical retailer. You are under legal obli-
gation to dispose of batteries correctly.
Note: You will find these markings on batteries containing harmful substances:
Pb = battery containing lead, Cd = battery containing cadmium, Hg = battery containing
Pb Cd Hg
mercury.
Please dispose of the device in accordance with EC Directive – WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electro-
nic Equipment).
If you have any queries, please contact the appropriate local authorities.
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