Personally, I don’t like body fat testing that much. I have Harpenden calipers and NIR testing machine (that I rarely use due to lack of recent evidence), but in the end I think these are only tools to guide you and possibly not even necessary tools in every case. I do use them, but they rarely dictate my program design. I think that if you’re relatively lean and active (with a small waist circumference) that it is unlikely that your visceral fat is incredibly high.

While it might give you a more accurate measure of this, I’d rather take the few thousand dollars and keep it in my pocket. And don’t get me wrong, I think Charles is a brilliant guy. I just don’t think a machine like this offers much advantage over a quick waist measurement in most people.

You’re a guy who blends the scientific evidence with the practical. I ways looking at Charles Staley’s website the other day and came across the following tool for body composition testing

http://staleytraining.com/store/training-equipment/bodymetrix.htm

http://intelametrix.com/Technology/Index.htm

The company website seems to indicate that the device can be used to assess the level of visceral versus subcutaneous fat to provide clients with an accurate picture of what is going on in terms of relative health risk. While body fat testing with calipers + waist circumference can offer a rough idea, if this device worked as advertised, it would seem to allow for an accurate idea even in skinnier clients who might have fairly high levels of visceral fat relative to their overall level of bodyfat.

It also seems like it might be useful if testing sizable groups, as with group fitness settings.

Just curious if you can offer your general thoughts on this if you have time to check it out and give it a once over.

While the device isn’t necessary, it seems like something that would produce consistent measurements whenever you test and even be the type of thing that could be leveraged into paying for itself in no time and even turning a bit of a profit. Some might say it is gimmicky, but the fact Coach Staley was willing to offer it on his site means there must be more than meets the eye, since he is a coach of the highest integrity, and I’ve never known him to be one to pitch something he didn’t have full faith in.

In any event, I thought this may be of some interest.