A Samsung patent titled ‘Method and system for estimation of abdominal fat’ describes using ultra-wideband (UWB) radar to scan the abdomen, then combining those readings with Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) measurements and basic metrics (weight, height, age, gender) to estimate abdominal fat and distinguish visceral from subcutaneous fat. The patent suggests this approach could enable a future Galaxy Watch to provide more detailed body-composition analysis.
Visceral fat accumulates deeper in the abdomen around vital organs, presenting a greater health risk than subcutaneous fat that lies just below the skin. It is also the hardest type of fat to lose. Accurate measurement today typically requires clinical imaging such as MRI or CT scans, which the patent notes are more precise than current consumer methods.
How the system would estimate visceral fat
The patent outlines a workflow in which UWB radar scans the abdomen to estimate subcutaneous fat layers. Those radar-derived estimates would be analyzed against BIA data and other basic user metrics to produce a more complete picture of total abdominal fat. With sufficient data, the system would then distinguish visceral fat from subcutaneous fat to deliver a more detailed analysis of body composition.
The filing does not specify the device that would carry this system, but the Galaxy Watch is a likely candidate because current models already include BIA sensors capable of measuring body fat percentage, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, BMI, BMR and other metrics.
