Athlete Mode

Tanita’s body composition monitors don’t measure body fat directly. Instead, they use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to measure weight and electrical resistance (impedance), then calculate body fat percentage using an equation that factors in height, gender, and body type.

For most people, the standard Adult mode provides accurate results, as it is calibrated using data from individuals with moderate or sedentary lifestyles. However, athletes and highly active individuals have different muscle structures, hydration levels, and muscle-to-fat ratios, which can affect readings.

Why Athlete Mode?

Tanita’s research found that elite athletes have:
✔ Higher muscle density compared to non-athletes
✔ A different muscle-to-water ratio due to increased hydration levels
✔ Lower body fat percentages that could be overestimated in standard mode

To maintain accuracy, Athlete Mode was developed, specifically calibrated based on a dataset of highly active individuals.

Who Should Use Athlete Mode?

Recommended for individuals who:
✔ Engage in 12+ hours of intensive aerobic exercise per week
✔ Have a resting heart rate below 60 bpm (not due to genetics alone)
✔ Have maintained high training levels for at least 6 months
✔ Have a history of athletic training, even if they train less now

⚠ Grey Area Users:
Some individuals may fall between Athlete Mode and Standard Mode, leading to slight variations in readings. However, Tanita monitors ensure consistent and repeatable measurements, allowing you to track trends over time—which is what truly matters for long-term health monitoring.

Best Suited for Endurance & Cross-Training Athletes

✔ Runners, cyclists, swimmers
✔ Cross-training and high-intensity sports participants
✔ Professional athletes may still get a slight overestimation, even in Athlete Mode

Athlete Mode is available in several models within the Tanita body composition range, ensuring accurate health tracking for different fitness levels.