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Safety precautions
• Persons with implanted medical equipment, such as a pacemaker, should not
use the TBF-551. This Body Fat Monitor/Scale passes a very low electrical
signal through the body during measurement, which may interfere with the
operation of a pacemaker.
• The Tanita Body Fat Monitor/Scale TBF-551 is intended for home use only.
This unit is not intended for professional use in hospitals or other medical facilities.
It is not equipped with the installation standards required for professional use.
• Do not use this unit on slippery surfaces such as tile flooring or wet floors.
• Children or disabled people should be assisted by someone else, or use a handrail
when using the TBF-551.
Important notes for users
There are three modes on the TBF-551: 1) Standard Adult mode, 2) Child mode and 3)
Athlete adult mode. Adults (age 18 or older) who are inactive to moderately active
should use the Standard Adult mode. Very physically active and fit individuals should
use the Athlete adult mode. The Athlete mode was developed to provide a more accu-
rate reading for athletic body types. Athletic body types are physiologically different
than standard adult body types, due to muscle mass and hydration level differences.
Tanita defines “athlete” as a person involved in intense physical activity of approxi-
mately 10 hours per week and who has a resting heart rate of approximately 60 beats
per minute or less. Tanita’s athlete definition includes “lifetime of fitness” individuals
who have been fit for years but currently exercise less than 10 hours per week.
Tanita’s athlete definition does not include “enthusiastic beginners” who are making a
real commitment to exercising at least 10 hours per week but whose bodies have not
yet changed to require the Athlete mode.
Body fat percentage estimates may be slightly lower or higher for the following
categories of people:
• Adults seventy years old or older
• Persons undergoing dialysis
• Persons suffering from edema
Body fat percentage measurements for these persons should not be treated as absolute
values, but may be used as relative values for checking body fat percent variations
over a period of time.
The body fat monitor function of the TBF-551 is not intended for pregnant women, pro-
fessional athletes or bodybuilders.
Recommendations for exercise programs or diets based on calculated data should be
determined by a doctor or licensed medical professional. Do not attempt to evaluate
the data by yourself.
Recorded data may be lost if the TBF-551 is used incorrectly or is exposed to electrical
power surges. Tanita takes no responsibility for any kind of loss caused by
the loss of recorded data.
Tanita takes no responsibility for any kind of damage or loss caused by these units, or
any kind of claim made by a third person.
Note: Body fat percentage estimates will vary with the amount of moisture in the body, and can be
affected by dehydration or overhydration due to such factors as alcohol consumption, menstruation, ill-
ness, intense exercise, etc.
Thank you for your selection of the Tanita
Body Fat Monitor/Scale TBF-551. This device
uses the BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis)
technique, state-of-the-art technology for body
fat measurement.
Note: Read this Instruction Manual carefully and keep
it handy for future reference.
Operating Instructions
