Final answer:
The Tanita Scale estimates Metabolic Age using a complex algorithm based on body composition measured by Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA), which evaluates body fat, muscle mass, and water content. It compares these results against normative data by age, gender, and activity levels to determine if an individual's metabolic rate is more or less efficient than what's expected for their age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tanita Scale determines your Metabolic Age through a complex algorithm based on body composition. It uses Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA), which assesses body composition by passing a small electrical current through the body and measuring the rate at which it travels. This rate is affected by the amount of water in the body's tissues, which directly relates to muscle mass. Since muscle is a good conductor due to its water content - unlike fat - this method can estimate the percentage of body fat, muscle mass, and water.
Factors such as age, gender, and level of physical activity affect one's metabolic rate. Therefore, when the scale assesses your body composition, it compares your results with data from your demographic to estimate if your body's metabolic rate aligns with your chronological age, is faster (a younger metabolic age), or slower (an older metabolic age).
It is important to note that the BMI is solely based on weight and height and does not consider muscle mass or bone density - factors that can be misleading when assessing a person's overall health and metabolism. Therefore, the metabolic age provided by a Tanita Scale with BIA might offer a more comprehensive view of one's metabolic health compared to BMI alone.