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

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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, “Loappears 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.

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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 “0.0and 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.

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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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